In a strong statement from the White House, Donald Trump warned that the United States would walk away from peace talks concerning the war in Ukraine unless substantial progress is made toward a ceasefire.
The U.S. president expressed his impatience with the ongoing conflict, emphasizing the loss of life, particularly the 2,500 young people who die daily in the war.
Trump’s Urgent Call for Action
Trump made it clear that the situation had reached a critical point and that the U.S. would not continue to engage in negotiations unless there were signs that a resolution was within reach.
He said, “We want to save these lives. If one of the parties makes it very difficult to achieve peace, we’ll have no choice but to walk away.”
Trump’s message was blunt: “We are not going to take that,” referring to the ongoing deaths while diplomatic talks continue without meaningful results.
U.S. Officials Consider Their Next Steps
Trump’s threat came after months of stalled talks and a growing sense of urgency.
More than a month has passed since Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, which Russia rejected.
In the meantime, fighting has continued, with recent missile strikes on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, leaving one person dead and more than 100 injured on Good Friday.
Trump’s comments were echoed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who stressed the importance of determining quickly whether peace talks could yield any results.
Rubio, speaking after talks in Paris with Ukrainian and European officials, declared, “We need to determine very quickly now – and I’m talking about days – whether or not this is doable. If not, we will move on.”
The Search for a Breakthrough
Previously, U.S. officials had aimed for a ceasefire by Easter Sunday, which this year fell on the same day in both the Christian and Eastern Orthodox calendars.
There were also reports that the U.S. offered Russia financial incentives, including a relaxation of economic sanctions, in exchange for agreeing to a ceasefire.
However, despite efforts to secure a breakthrough, diplomatic efforts have yet to yield tangible progress.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s peace envoy, has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin three times in recent weeks, but no significant concessions have been made.
Trump’s Confidence in Negotiations
On the campaign trail, Trump has frequently boasted about his ability to end the war swiftly.
Speaking from the Oval Office, he reaffirmed his conviction that he could resolve the conflict quickly.
“Nobody is playing me. I am trying to help,” Trump said, emphasizing his experience in negotiations.
He added that he believed both sides were eager for an end to the war, which he saw as a positive sign for a potential resolution.