Written by Lisa Murimi
The United States will walk away from efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine within days if no signs of progress toward a truce emerge, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said.
“If it’s not going to happen, then we’re just going to move on,” Rubio told reporters on Friday, following a meeting with European leaders in Paris.
“We need to determine very quickly now—I’m talking about a matter of days—whether or not this is doable.”
Rubio’s warning came just hours after Ukraine and the U.S. signed a memorandum of intent to create a joint investment fund for Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.
While details remain sparse, the deal is believed to extend beyond mineral extraction to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including oil and gas.
Despite continued Russian missile strikes, including one on Friday that killed two civilians, the U.S. has yet to offer Kyiv security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cautioned that any truce without such guarantees would leave Ukraine vulnerable.
The memo said the U.S. public supports investing in a “free, sovereign and secure Ukraine,” though negotiations have been strained by former President Trump’s demands for Ukraine to repay previous military aid.
Ukrainian officials say the deal must still be ratified by parliament. Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko expressed optimism, saying the agreement “will be very beneficial for both countries.” The final version is expected by April 26.
