U.S. Signals Frustration With Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks, Floats Possible Withdrawal
As peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia drag on with little progress, the U.S. is signaling that its patience is wearing thin—and it may be prepared to walk away.
Speaking in Paris on April 18, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the U.S. could withdraw from mediation efforts if no concrete progress is made in the coming days.
“We need to determine—quickly—whether peace is even possible. That’s why we’re engaging both sides right now,” Rubio said, following meetings with European allies and Trump administration envoy Steve Witkoff. He noted that after months of quiet diplomacy, Washington may halt its efforts if neither Kyiv nor Moscow shows real movement toward an agreement.
“We’re talking about a matter of days to assess whether, in the weeks ahead, peace is still on the table,” Rubio added.
That same day, President Donald Trump echoed the warning with a more pointed tone: “If, for whatever reason, one or both sides make things unreasonably difficult, we’ll just say, ‘You’re being foolish. You’re being stupid. You’re terrible.’ And we’ll walk away. Hopefully, that won’t be necessary.”
Last month, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a limited ceasefire—halting attacks on each other’s energy infrastructure—but have yet to move toward the broader, conflict-freeze proposal Trump has publicly pushed.
Experts say the U.S. messaging may be less about walking away and more about turning up the pressure. “The idea that either side would respond with major breakthroughs in just a few days isn’t realistic,” said Mark N. Katz, a Russia foreign policy expert. “But the point of the warning may be to push both sides, especially Moscow, toward more serious engagement.”
Professor Michael A. Allen of Boise State University noted that the Trump administration still seems invested in a deal. President Trump has expressed hope that a critical minerals agreement with Ukraine will soon be finalized. Vice President JD Vance also struck an optimistic tone during recent discussions about ceasefire progress while visiting Italy.
According to Allen, the tough rhetoric from Rubio and Trump could be a calculated tactic to pressure Russia. “If you read between the lines, this frustration seems more directed at Moscow than at Kyiv,” he said. “The U.S. hasn’t received meaningful commitments from Russia toward any kind of stable ceasefire.”
Allen added that Washington may suspect Moscow is intentionally stalling. Last month, Ukraine signaled it would accept a full ceasefire, while Russia has continued to present demands that most observers view as unrealistic.
Katz said identifying who the Trump administration blames for stalled talks will reveal the true meaning of the threat to pull out. “If the U.S. blames Russia, this warning signals Trump’s growing impatience with Vladimir Putin—and military aid to Ukraine will likely continue, maybe even increase,” Katz explained. “If the U.S. blames Ukraine, the bigger question becomes whether U.S. support will hold.”
He noted that with Russia gaining ground on the battlefield, Putin may believe he can delay talks until he secures greater leverage.
Andrew Roth, a global affairs analyst for The Guardian, said a key principle of effective diplomacy is being willing to walk away. “But the big unknown,” Roth added, “is whether this is just negotiation posturing—or if the Trump administration is truly ready to disengage.”
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has reportedly spoken with Putin three times, and Rubio has held multiple calls with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. But little progress has emerged.
Rubio’s April 18 remarks came just one day after Trump publicly stated he was waiting on a response from Moscow to a proposed peace framework.
Still, observers warn that if the U.S. does pull out of peace efforts—and potentially cuts off military aid—that scenario would play directly into Russia’s hands, leaving Ukraine without its most critical backer.
“Russia is trying to run out the clock,” Roth said. “They’re betting that if they can’t get favorable terms, they can at least wear down Trump’s patience and get the U.S. to walk away.”
(Sources: The Guardian, NBC News, AFP, Reuters)
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