Trump: US will ‘take a pass’ on Ukraine peace talks if no progress soon

By The Inspirer.

President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will “take a pass” on facilitating further peace talks between Russia and Ukraine if either side makes it “very difficult” to reach a deal.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump emphasized that while he does not expect a truce within a set number of days, he wants to see progress “quickly.”

His remarks followed a stern warning from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said Washington would abandon the diplomatic effort unless there were clear signs of movement within days.

“We’re not going to continue this effort for weeks and months on end,” Rubio stated. “The US has other priorities to focus on.”

The comments came amid continued Russian strikes on Ukraine, with two civilians killed and over 100 injured in attacks on the northeastern cities of Kharkiv and Sumy on Friday. Russian forces, which invaded Ukraine in 2022, continue to advance—albeit slowly—through the eastern regions.

President Vladimir Putin has attached several conditions to any potential ceasefire, complicating negotiations.

Tensions Rise Amid Minerals Deal and Peace Efforts

When asked about the prospects for a deal, Trump said, “We’re talking about people dying. We want to get it stopped—ideally. But if one of the parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say, ‘You’re fools, you’re horrible people,’ and we’ll take a pass.”

Despite early confidence from the Trump administration in securing a ceasefire, efforts have yet to yield a breakthrough. Washington has increasingly blamed both Kyiv and Moscow for the lack of progress.

After meeting with European leaders in Paris on Thursday, Rubio reiterated that time was running out.

“We need to determine very quickly—I’m talking days—whether this is doable. If it’s not, we’ll move on.”

Trump, who previously claimed he would end the war within 24 hours of returning to office, is under growing pressure to deliver on that promise.

Russia Signals Openness, But Challenges Remain

Responding to Trump’s remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the negotiations as “quite difficult” but said Russia remains committed to reaching a peace settlement that protects its interests and is open to dialogue.

Meanwhile, in Rome, US Vice President JD Vance struck a more hopeful tone during a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

“I won’t prejudge anything, but we’re optimistic we can bring this brutal war to an end,” Vance said, noting ongoing developments in the past 24 hours.

Minerals Deal Adds New Dimension to Talks

Vance’s comments came as Ukraine and the US took the first steps toward finalizing a minerals and reconstruction agreement. This follows a failed attempt earlier this year, when a February meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky erupted into a public confrontation.

On Thursday, the two countries signed a memorandum of intent to establish an investment fund for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction as part of a broader economic partnership. According to the Ukrainian government, the deal is expected to be finalized by April 26.

While details remain vague, leaks suggest the agreement could extend beyond minerals to include energy infrastructure and control over oil and gas resources.

Ukrainian officials have resisted Trump’s push to use the fund to repay past US military aid but appear open to his argument that it will aid recovery efforts.

The memo stated that “the American people desire to invest alongside the Ukrainian people in a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine.”

Zelensky has sought to use the deal to secure long-term US security guarantees, warning European leaders that “a ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine.” However, Washington has so far been reluctant to offer formal guarantees, insisting that US business involvement would serve as a deterrent against further Russian aggression—a strategy that failed in 2022.

Talks Continue, But Outcome Unclear

Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the memorandum signing on X, sharing images of herself and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signing the document remotely.

“There’s a lot to do, but the pace and progress give us reason to expect the agreement will benefit both countries,” she wrote.

Bessent confirmed the details were still being finalized but said the framework closely aligns with earlier discussions.

Trump also referenced the deal during a press conference with Meloni, stating, “We have a minerals deal that’s supposed to be signed next Thursday… I assume they’ll live up to it. We’ll see.”

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, an MP and chair of Ukraine’s parliamentary committee on EU Integration, told the BBC the final approval lies with the Ukrainian parliament.

“I hope the final agreement reflects the best interests of our country and people,” she said.

On Thursday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff in Paris to continue ceasefire discussions. Sybiha said the talks covered “paths to a fair and lasting peace, including a full ceasefire, a multinational peacekeeping contingent, and security guarantees for Ukraine.”

Source: BBC News