Trump Warns of Potential U.S. Exit from Ukraine Peace Negotiations Without Swift Progress

President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that the United States might opt out of negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine unless there is evident willingness from both Moscow and Kyiv to engage in constructive discussions in the near future.

“If one side makes it overly challenging for us, we might just declare, ‘You’re being foolish. You’re acting irresponsibly. You’re terrible people,’ and decide not to participate,” Trump stated to reporters in the Oval Office. “However, I am hopeful we won’t reach that point.”

He refrained from placing blame on Russian President Vladimir Putin, who initiated a comprehensive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the stagnation in peace efforts. Instead, Trump emphasized the necessity for both parties to progress.

His remarks followed closely after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, addressing an audience in Paris, mentioned that the U.S. might step back from its position as a mediator if there are no indicators of significant advancements in the ongoing discussions.

Trump cautioned that a decision to withdraw from the negotiations could occur “very soon.” He added, “There’s no set number of days, but it would be quick. We want resolution.”

When asked if he felt he was being manipulated by Putin, Trump replied: “No one is manipulating me; I’m here to assist.”

“My entire life has revolved around negotiations, and I can tell when people are trying to deceive us and when they are sincere,” he noted. When queried about whether Putin was prolonging the discussions, Trump responded: “I hope that’s not the case. I’ll keep you posted on that… he has a significant military presence there.”

Trump has advocated for a ceasefire from both parties but has yet to secure substantial concessions from the Kremlin, despite a recent telephone conversation with Putin and several visits to Russia by his special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

A temporary pause in strikes against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure—the only significant concession Trump managed to obtain from Moscow—came to an end on Friday, as reported by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

At the same time, European leaders have expressed a desire for a more active role in the negotiations, particularly as the Trump administration encourages Europe to take on a larger share of the responsibility for Ukraine’s security.

France hosted a round of discussions in Paris on Thursday, describing them as a “positive process.” The meetings included French President Emmanuel Macron, Rubio, and Witkoff.

Reporting by AFP contributed to this article.