After Secretary of State Marco Rubio Friday hinted that US can’t go one mediating between Russia and Ukraine and would “move on” within days unless there is a clear sign of an agreement,, critics of President Donald Trump asked what happened to his promised that he could end the war within 24 hours.
“We’re not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end,” Rubio said after landmark meetings in Paris with European and Ukrainian leaders amid the Trump admin’s ongoing efforts to spearhead a ceasefire deal.
“So we need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks.”
“If it’s not possible, if we’re so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think [President Trump] is probably at a point where he’s going to say, ‘well, we’re done’,” he added.
Rubio repeated what Trump has been saying that it is not his war — it is former president Joe Biden’s war, “It’s not our war. We have other priorities to focus on,” Rubio said. “The president feels very strongly about that. He has dedicated a lot of time and energy to this … this is important, but there are a lot of other really important things going on that deserves just as much, if not more attention.”
Where does the Russia-Ukraine deal stand now?
The Paris meeting was the first substantive, high-level meeting which Rubio said went well. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office called the talks constructive and positive. When asked about Rubio’s comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Friday that “fairly complex” negotiations are ongoing between Russia and the US. “Russia is striving toward resolving this conflict, securing its own interests, and is open to dialogue. We are continuing to do this,” he said.
