us-to-exit-russia-ukraine-talks-if-negotiations-fail-trump

US President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States may withdraw from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine peace talks if either side proves difficult to engage with.

 

Trump echoed a statement made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, asserting that Washington could abandon its efforts to broker peace if Moscow and Kiev do not engage in negotiations. While expressing hope for a peaceful resolution, Trump acknowledged the difficulties in achieving this goal.

 

Speaking to reporters late on Friday, Trump responded to a question about remarks from Rubio, who suggested that the White House could pull out of the talks soon. “If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say you’re foolish, you’re fools, you’re horrible people,” Trump remarked. “We’re going to just take a pass, but hopefully we won’t have to do that.”

 

Earlier, Rubio had stated that the White House is still assessing whether a peace deal is “doable.” He added, “We need to figure out here, now, within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if it’s not, then I think we’re just going to move on.”

 

Trump supported Rubio’s comments, reiterating, “Marco Rubio is right in saying we want to see the conflict end,” and adding, “I think we have a good chance of solving the problem.” Despite expressing his understanding of the complexities surrounding the Ukraine conflict, Trump has consistently called for a peaceful and long-lasting resolution.

 

While high-level talks between the two countries have been ongoing, Ukraine, along with its Western allies, continues to call for escalation. Trump has frequently criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who he has labelled as a barrier to peace. Although Trump has expressed frustration with the process, he has offered a path for Ukraine to negotiate a settlement with Russia, which is increasing its military presence on Ukrainian soil.

 

Meanwhile, Moscow has indicated a willingness to engage in peace talks, provided that its core security demands are met. These include the withdrawal of NATO forces from Ukraine, the recognition of Russia’s annexed territories, and a cessation of Ukraine’s NATO membership aspirations or nuclear ambitions.

 

However, Russia has rejected any form of ceasefire that merely freezes the conflict, warning that such an agreement would inevitably lead to further hostilities.