Trump says Russia-Ukraine talks reaching turning point as US considers stepping back

US President Donald Trump on Friday said that negotiations between Russia and Ukraine are “coming to a head,” insisting that neither country is manipulating him amid his administration’s push to end the prolonged war. His comments followed warnings from Secretary of State Marco Rubio that the United States may pull back from its mediation efforts if no progress is made in the coming days.

“If one of the parties makes this too difficult, we’ll just say they’re being foolish,” Trump said, emphasizing his hope to avoid that outcome. The Trump administration has been under mounting pressure to assess whether a diplomatic solution is feasible after several months of stalled talks.

Rubio, speaking from Paris after a round of high-level negotiations involving US, Ukrainian, and European officials, stated that the next meeting — scheduled for London — could determine the future of American involvement. “We need to decide in a matter of days,” Rubio said. “This is not our war. We have other priorities.”

Though progress remains tentative, talks in Paris produced an outline for potential steps toward peace. The US and Europe have reportedly been weighing both incentives and pressure tactics, while declining to ease sanctions on Russia at this stage.

Vice President JD Vance, ahead of meetings in Rome, struck a cautiously optimistic tone, hinting at positive developments he would not publicly detail. Meanwhile, the US and Ukraine appear to be nearing a long-stalled minerals deal, with both sides recently signing a memorandum of intent, potentially paving the way for deeper economic cooperation.

Despite the diplomatic activity, skepticism remains. Critics argue that Trump’s negotiation style puts undue pressure on Ukraine and shows signs of favoring a rapprochement with Moscow. Former NSC adviser Thomas Wright noted that withdrawing US support could help Russia without bringing an end to the conflict.

Russia, for its part, has signaled openness to continued dialogue. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said negotiations are ongoing, even as a US-backed ceasefire agreement recently lapsed. Moscow has tied its conditions to Ukraine halting mobilization and the West stopping arms support — terms Kyiv has rejected.

Meanwhile, Russia continued its assault on Ukrainian cities. In Kharkiv, a deadly attack using cluster munitions killed one and injured 98 civilians, including children. A drone strike also targeted a bakery in Sumy, days after a previous missile attack killed 34 during Palm Sunday celebrations.

Despite claims by Trump on the campaign trail that he could end the war “within a day,” the path to peace remains fraught with conflicting interests, delayed agreements, and continued bloodshed on the ground. Another decisive round of negotiations next week may determine whether the US continues its mediation or steps aside.