U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a dramatic ultimatum Friday, signaling that the United States may abandon its efforts to broker peace in Ukraine within days if no progress is made in ending the war with Russia. Speaking after high-stakes talks in Paris with European and Ukrainian leaders, Rubio emphasized the urgency: “If it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on”9.
This warning reflects mounting frustration within the Trump administration as negotiations have stalled and Russia continues to reject U.S.-backed ceasefire proposals that Ukraine has already accepted. Rubio clarified that a U.S.-drafted peace framework has been presented to both Kyiv and Moscow, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov briefed on the details.
The Secretary of State’s comments come as the Biden administration faces increasing pressure to justify ongoing support for Ukraine amid a costly and protracted conflict. President Trump, who campaigned on promises to resolve the war swiftly, has dedicated days to high-level diplomatic efforts but now appears ready to reconsider America’s role.
Meanwhile, Russia launched a missile attack on Kharkiv overnight, killing one and injuring dozens, underscoring the ongoing violence. As the U.S. weighs its next steps, European allies are being urged to take a more active role, with further talks expected in London in the coming days.
The world now watches to see if a breakthrough is possible—or if the U.S. will indeed “move on” from peacemaking in Ukraine.
