April 18, 2025, United States
The United States may walk away from efforts to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days if no tangible progress is made, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Friday. A key meeting with European leaders in Paris, Rubio expressed frustration at the lack of momentum in negotiations and signaled Washington’s intent to refocus its diplomatic priorities.
“We’re not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end,” Rubio said. “We need to determine very quickly, in a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the short term. If it’s not going to happen, then we’re just going to move on.”
This stark warning comes as Ukraine and the US signed a memorandum of intent on Thursday to establish a joint investment fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction. The deal, part of a broader Economic Partnership Agreement, aims to be finalized by April 26.
Though the memo did not detail specific natural resources, leaked documents suggest the deal includes access to Ukraine’s vast reserves of critical minerals, as well as oil, gas, and energy infrastructure. Kyiv reportedly holds around 5% of the world’s critical raw materials, including a third of Europe’s lithium deposits and 7% of its titanium supply.
The initiative, announced by Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko via X, involves equal management of the fund by both Kyiv and Washington. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the deal is a continuation of previous talks and is now an 80-page agreement in progress.
However, tensions between the US and Ukrainian leadership have clouded the negotiations. A heated public clash between former President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House in February disrupted earlier progress. Trump has since signaled renewed interest, mentioning the minerals deal during a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Despite the economic cooperation, security remains a major sticking point. Ukraine continues to push for firm US security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire, something Washington has yet to provide. Zelensky warned that a ceasefire without such assurances could leave Ukraine vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Rubio in Paris to discuss terms for peace, including the deployment of a multinational contingent.
As diplomatic efforts hang in the balance, the future of both peace and Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction now hinges on swift, tangible progress.
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