Trump says US will 'pass' on Ukraine peace talks if no progress soon

Donald Trump stated that the US will "take a pass" on further Russia-Ukraine talks. This is if either Moscow or Kyiv makes it difficult to reach a peace deal.

On Friday, Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office. He does not expect a truce in "a specific number of days." However, he wants it done "quickly."

His comments followed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's warning. Rubio said the US would abandon talks without clear signs of progress soon. "We're not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months," he added.

Russian strikes on Ukraine continue, killing two people and injuring over 100. This occurred in Kharkiv and Sumy on Friday.

Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, slowly advancing in eastern regions. President Vladimir Putin has set conditions for any potential ceasefire.

Trump's direct diplomacy with Putin raises concerns among NATO allies. They argue that support for Ukraine must be maintained.

When asked about a deal between Russia and Ukraine, Trump said: "We're talking about people dying." He emphasized the need to stop the violence quickly.

He added that if either party complicates negotiations, the US would withdraw from talks. "You're fools, you're horrible people," he said regarding those who obstruct peace efforts.

Despite initial confidence from Trump's administration, no ceasefire has been reached yet. Washington blames both sides for this failure.

After meeting European leaders about a ceasefire, Rubio stressed urgency. He said they need to determine within days if peace is achievable.

"If it's not going to happen, then we're just going to move on," he stated about truce talks. He acknowledged that reaching a peace deal would be challenging.

Before re-entering office, Trump claimed he could end fighting within 24 hours. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded by saying negotiations are difficult but ongoing.

Peskov noted that Russia seeks a peace settlement while ensuring its interests are met.

During a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, Vice-President JD Vance expressed optimism about ending the war. He mentioned updates on negotiations between Russia and Ukraine over recent developments.

Vance hoped they could bring an end to this brutal conflict soon. His comments came after news of progress towards a minerals deal between Ukraine and the US.

The two countries signed a memorandum of intent for an investment fund aimed at reconstruction efforts in Ukraine. They plan to finalize this deal by April 26th according to Ukrainian government sources.

Details remain unclear; previous leaks suggested broader agreements involving energy infrastructure as well as oil and gas control. Ukrainian negotiators have resisted Trump's demands regarding military aid repayment but seem open to his claims about recovery assistance post-war.

The memo states that Americans want to invest alongside Ukrainians in a secure nation. Zelensky hopes this deal will lead to US security guarantees during any ceasefire discussions.

So far, the US has resisted providing such guarantees despite Zelensky's warnings about their necessity for safety during ceasefires. The White House believes American business presence may deter Russian aggression but acknowledges past failures since 2022 invasion attempts did occur regardless of such presence.

Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the signing via social media with images from an online call with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. She expressed optimism about significant benefits from this agreement for both nations moving forward.

Bessent confirmed details are still being finalized but align closely with prior agreements made earlier on similar issues related to minerals extraction rights.

Trump hinted at upcoming deals during his press conference with Meloni stating: “We have a minerals deal which I guess is going to be signed next Thursday.”

Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze emphasized that Ukraine’s parliament will ultimately decide on ratifying any agreements made through these negotiations ensuring national interests remain prioritized throughout discussions held thus far surrounding ending hostilities effectively moving forward together collaboratively toward lasting solutions ahead!

On Thursday Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met Rubio along with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff discussing paths toward fair lasting peace including full ceasefires multinational contingents security guarantees necessary protecting sovereignty integrity future stability regionally globally alike!