The clock may be running out on U.S. involvement in Ukraine peace efforts. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, after meetings in Paris, made it clear that the United States is prepared to “move on” if no meaningful progress toward ending the war is made in the coming days. After years of entanglement, the Trump administration appears done with endless delays.
Rubio called the latest talks constructive but warned that time is running out. Discussions in Paris included U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ukrainian officials. A follow-up meeting is expected in London next week. But the message is clear: the window for peace is closing—fast.
Russia has rejected President Trump’s proposed comprehensive ceasefire, demanding Ukraine halt its military mobilization and that Western arms shipments stop—terms Ukraine refuses. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has announced the expiration of a one-month pause in attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, raising fears of renewed escalation.
Adding pressure, President Trump expects a critical minerals agreement with Ukraine to be signed on April 24, a deal that could reshape U.S.-Ukraine economic ties. But it all hinges on the war winding down.
Behind the scenes, Rubio and Witkoff have worked tirelessly, with Witkoff meeting Putin three times and hosting Saudi-led negotiations. Yet despite those efforts, there’s growing frustration in D.C. over Ukraine’s unwillingness to accept real-world terms for peace.
This isn’t about abandoning Ukraine—it’s about putting America First. If European allies and Kyiv don’t act, the U.S. may finally walk. As Rubio put it, peace must happen within weeks—or the U.S. may step aside and let Europe carry the load.