Former President Donald Trump said Friday that peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are reaching a critical stage, and insisted neither side is manipulating him as he pushes to end the war.
His remarks came shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the U.S. could soon pull back from mediation efforts if progress isn't made, following months of fruitless discussions.
“If either side continues to make things difficult, we’ll just say, ‘You’re being foolish,’ and walk away,” Trump said. “But hopefully, it won’t come to that.”
Rubio's statement followed high-level talks in Paris between U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials, which showed some signs of progress. Another meeting is set for next week in London, which Rubio said may determine whether the U.S. stays involved.
“We’re at the point where we need to decide if peace is even achievable,” Rubio told reporters. “If not, we’ll step back. It’s not our war — we have other issues to focus on.” He said a decision could be made within days.
Rubio repeated this message in a call with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, saying the U.S. would withdraw from peace efforts if no path to resolution emerges soon.
Trump agreed with Rubio’s assessment but stopped short of saying he was ready to abandon the process. “We want to see this war end,” he said.
While pressure mounts for both sides to come to an agreement, the U.S. and Ukraine have made progress on a long-awaited deal granting American access to Ukraine’s rich mineral resources — a deal Trump sees as part of the broader peace initiative. On Thursday, he confirmed the deal was moving forward, and Ukraine’s economy minister said a memorandum of intent had been signed with the U.S. Treasury.
The agreement is expected to attract significant investment and modernize infrastructure in Ukraine. Talks had previously stalled after a tense Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and President Zelenskyy.
Russia's Position
Despite signs of impatience from Washington, Rubio described the Paris discussions as constructive. He said he had briefed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the outcomes, though he didn't share Lavrov’s response.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that negotiations with the U.S. are ongoing and complex, but Russia remains open to dialogue while protecting its interests. He acknowledged that a previously agreed 30-day ceasefire — supported by both Russia and Ukraine — had expired, but did not comment on future actions.
Both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire terms almost immediately after talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia.
Rubio noted that European allies — particularly the U.K., France, and Germany — have recently played a more productive role in the peace process. However, European leaders are increasingly worried about Trump’s potential shift toward a closer relationship with Russia.
The Paris summit marked the first major meeting between U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials since Trump returned to office, with discussions also focusing on future security guarantees for Ukraine. Rubio declined to reveal what role the U.S. might play in those guarantees.
Rubio and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff have been leading U.S. efforts to broker peace. Witkoff has met three times with President Putin, and several rounds of negotiations have already taken place in Saudi Arabia. However, Russia has rejected a full ceasefire plan proposed by Trump and supported by Ukraine, unless Ukraine halts mobilization and the West stops arms shipments — conditions Ukraine refuses to accept.
Asked if Putin was deliberately stalling, Trump replied, “I hope not. We’ll find out soon.”
Former National Security Council advisor Thomas Wright criticized Trump’s approach, saying it places undue pressure on Ukraine. He warned that withdrawing support from Kyiv would only benefit Russia, not end the war. “The only way to bring this conflict to a close is by increasing pressure on Putin, and that means maintaining strong support for Ukraine,” Wright said.
Continued Attacks in Ukraine
While diplomatic talks continue, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities. In Kharkiv, one person was killed and 98 injured — including six children — when Russian forces used cluster munitions in a residential area, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov.
In Sumy, Russian drones hit a bakery, killing one customer and injuring an employee. Photos from the scene showed destroyed walls and Easter cakes covered in dust.
These attacks follow deadly missile strikes earlier in April. On Palm Sunday, 34 people were killed in Sumy. On April 4, 20 civilians — including nine children — died in Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih.