President Trump said the United States could walk away from a proposed peace deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, signaling the administration may withdraw if negotiations stall or either party fails to show good faith.
Speaking with reporters, Trump made clear that continued support for Ukraine is not guaranteed if peace efforts collapse. “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,’ and we’re going to take a pass,” he said from the Oval Office.
While maintaining an overall optimistic tone, Trump stopped short of pledging sustained military support for Ukraine. “I’m not going to say that,” he said when asked about continued assistance. “Because I think we’re gonna get it done.” He added that he still believes there is “a good chance of solving the problem.”
Recent meetings between U.S. officials and Russian President Vladimir Putin have fueled speculation that a temporary ceasefire may be on the table. Trump administration envoys have also met with European leaders in recent days to explore options for brokering a resolution.
Senator Marco Rubio, who spoke with reporters after attending meetings in Paris with U.S. allies, said the administration is rapidly approaching a decision point. “I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable over the next few weeks,” Rubio said. “If it is, we’re in. If it’s not, then we have other priorities to focus on.”
Rubio, along with Trump’s special envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, met with French President Emmanuel Macron and other European officials to discuss the proposed terms for a temporary halt in hostilities. The team also held a call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during which they reiterated Trump’s hopes that the proposal would lead to tangible progress.
According to a State Department readout of the conversation, Rutte was told that while the U.S. remains committed to helping end the war, that position may shift if the peace process stalls. “The Secretary stressed, while our nation has been committed to helping end the war, if a clear path to peace does not emerge soon, the United States will step back from efforts to broker peace,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce.
The comments reflect growing uncertainty surrounding U.S. involvement in the conflict and have sparked concern among Ukrainian officials and European allies who fear Trump may be preparing to scale back American engagement in the region.