President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning: if either Russia or Ukraine continues to complicate efforts to reach a peace deal, the United States might walk away from trying to end the war altogether.
Speaking after Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with European leaders in Paris, Trump made it clear that Washington’s patience is wearing thin. “If 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 just take a pass,” Trump said, while also expressing hope that such a move won’t be necessary.
Rubio echoed Trump’s growing frustration, saying the U.S. could abandon its mediation efforts within days if there’s no meaningful progress. “If we’re so far apart that this is not going to happen,” Rubio said, “then I think the president is probably at a point where he’s going to say, ‘Well, we’re done.’”
Still, Trump told reporters he remains hopeful. “It’s coming to a head right now,” he said, suggesting a resolution could still be in reach. Vice President JD Vance, speaking from Rome, also expressed optimism about a potential breakthrough.
Ceasefire Tensions: Ukraine Agrees, Russia Stalls
Ukraine has already agreed to a full temporary ceasefire but has accused Russia of dragging its feet to gain a stronger bargaining position. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently rejected a joint U.S.-Ukrainian ceasefire proposal, insisting any Black Sea truce must come with the lifting of certain Western sanctions.
When asked whether Putin was deliberately delaying negotiations, Trump—who spoke directly with the Russian leader in February—responded, “I hope not… I’ll let you know soon.” He denied being manipulated by Putin, saying, “Nobody’s playing me, I’m trying to help.”
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov acknowledged the complexity of peace talks, admitting it’s “not easy” to agree on key components of a deal. He claimed the conflict’s root cause lies with “the actions of Washington and Brussels,” who he says helped bring Ukraine’s current leadership to power.
On the Ground: Violence Rages On
Even as diplomatic efforts continue, fighting on the ground shows no sign of letting up. A Russian missile strike in Kharkiv killed one person and injured dozens more on Friday, including five children. A separate drone attack killed another in nearby Sumy.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported extensive damage across 15 residential buildings, a business, and an educational facility. Russian attacks also hit other major cities, including Lviv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, and the capital, Kyiv.
“Just after 5am, as curfews lifted and people began their day, cities across Ukraine were hit by missiles, drones, rockets, and artillery,” said Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi, reporting from Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that while Russia has scaled back strikes on energy infrastructure, attacks on civilian areas continue at full force. Russia, for its part, claimed it had hit drone production facilities and military airfields.
Russia Warns Germany Over Missile Deliveries
In a separate development, Moscow has issued a stern warning to Germany over potential plans to send Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine. Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said the move would mark Germany’s direct involvement in the war.
“These countries are waging war against Russia using their proxy forces,” Nebenzia said. “Delivering Taurus missiles would be another step toward escalation.”
As the situation on both diplomatic and battlefield fronts intensifies, the world watches closely—waiting to see whether peace talks collapse or finally gain traction.
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