U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Washington may withdraw from efforts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine unless tangible progress is made \"very quickly.\" Speaking at the White House on Friday, Trump emphasized that prolonged deadlock could lead the U.S. to disengage, stating: \"Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're going to say, 'you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people.'\"
This follows remarks by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stressed in Paris that the Biden administration will only continue diplomatic efforts for \"a matter of days\" without clear advancements. Rubio met with European and Ukrainian leaders earlier this week to assess the viability of a negotiated resolution.
Trump acknowledged a proposed 30-day halt to attacks on energy infrastructure, agreed upon by both sides in March, but recent accusations threaten to derail the fragile truce. Russian officials claim Ukrainian forces struck energy facilities in 15 regions, while Ukraine reported 35 casualties from a Russian missile attack in Sumy.
The escalating rhetoric highlights growing frustration in Washington, with Trump declining to set a concrete deadline but underscoring the urgency of results. Analysts warn that a U.S. withdrawal could further destabilize the conflict, impacting global energy markets and security dynamics in Eastern Europe.
