Trump confirmed that the United States could abandon peace attempts in Ukraine
The US will withdraw from efforts to mediate for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, unless there are any clear signs of progress soon, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.
« Quick, we want to do it, » Trump told reporters in the White House. « Now, if for some reason one of the two sides makes it very difficult, we will just say, » You are stupid, you are fools, you are terrible people, and we will just fit. But we hope we won’t have to do this. «
Trump’s comments followed Rubio’s statement, his senior diplomat – that the countries have only a few days to show progress, or Washington will leave.
| « We will not continue with this endeavor weeks and months in a row. So I have to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days whether it is feasible or not in the next few weeks, » Rubio said in Paris after meeting with European and Ukrainian leaders.
« If it is not possible, if we are so far from each other that this will not happen, then I think the president is probably at a time when he will say » Well, we are over. « |
Trump, when asked, refused to indicate a specific deadline for how long he was ready to wait.
« Marco is right as he says … We want to see the end, » Trump said. Asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin Bavi, Trump replied: « I hope not. »
In the last few weeks, Trump officials have admitted in a private conversation that the chances of a quick peace agreement in Ukraine have become negligible. Rubio’s comments, three European diplomats said, reflect the growing disappointment in the White House from Russia’s relentlessness to end the war.
The US official said that the countries would re -engage in London next week, giving Ukraine time to fully agree to the « Conditions List » presented by Washington. Kiev was ready for a complete termination of fire by sea, land and air for at least 30 days or more, the employee said.
Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine during his election campaign during his first 24 hours in the White House. He softened this claim when he took office, offering a deal until April or May, as obstacles are increasing.
He puts pressure on both sides to sit at a negotiating table, threatening more stringent sanctions against Russia or the end of the billions of dollars of US military support for Kiev.
Both Ukraine and Russia have been negotiating US mediation in Saudi Arabia, which led to a partial ceasefire, but nothing more. Meanwhile, the war is ongoing, including a recent Russian missile attack, which hit sums in northeastern Ukraine, killing 35 people – an attack that Trump called a « mistake ».
A source familiar with the internal discussions said that Trump had given his team to understand that it was really doubtful whether it was worth continuing with the negotiations in order to get out of the dead street.
The first US employee said Rubio’s comments reflect Trump’s disappointment with the problem and concern that this would soon be the « Trump War ».
If Washington withdraws, the efforts to achieve peace are likely to fail because no other country is able to put such pressure on Moscow and Kiev.
