US President Donald Trump will withdraw from mediating a peaceful settlement of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the coming days if there are no clear signs that an agreement can be reached, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in Paris after meetings with European and Ukrainian leaders.
“We’re not going to continue this effort for weeks and months with no end in sight. We need to determine very quickly – I’m talking about days – whether it’s possible to achieve a result in the coming weeks. If yes, we stay in the game. If not, we have other priorities,” Reuters quoted Rubio as saying.
The official noted that if it is impossible to achieve an end to the conflict, the U.S. “needs to move on.”
“We need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether it’s possible or not <…> If it’s not possible, if our positions are so far apart that an agreement is not going to happen, then I think the president will probably reach a point where he’ll say, ‘We’re done,’” CNN quoted Rubio as saying.
According to the Secretary of State, the United States has been helping Ukraine for the past three years, “and we want this to end, but this is not our war.”
It is worth noting that on April 30, one hundred days will expire from the beginning of the second term of Donald Trump’s presidency. The United States traditionally assesses the successes and blunders of the head of state at the end of this term.
This is a major turning point in the Ukraine conflict. If the US steps back, I wonder who will take the lead in peace negotiations. Europe needs to step up!
Honestly, the US can’t solve every conflict. Maybe it’s time for regional powers to take more responsibility. Let’s see what happens next.
If America pulls out, the EU will face even more pressure to mediate. This could change the entire dynamic of the conflict and Europe’s role in it.
Sad to see diplomatic efforts reaching a dead end. I hope this doesn’t mean more suffering for people in Ukraine. The world must not give up on peace!
Rubio’s statement shows just how frustrated the US is with the lack of progress. It’s a tough call, but perhaps a new approach is needed to break the deadlock.