The US government will abandon efforts to secure a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine if meaningful progress is not achieved within “a matter of days,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.
“If it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on,” he told reporters before departing Paris, where he took part in high-level talks on the war between Ukraine’s European allies and representatives from Kiev on Thursday.
“We need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable,” he added. “If it’s not possible, if we’re so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the president is probably at a point where he’s going to say ‘we’re done.'”
President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to quickly end the war in Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion more than three years ago.
Yet despite his administration’s diplomatic push – and the president’s own conversations with the leaders of both countries – progress has been limited, with few concessions being offered by Moscow.
Rubio has met in recent months with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in person in an effort to broker a truce. The two spoke again by phone on Thursday, with the top US diplomat describing the call as “constructive.”
Meanwhile, a 30-day moratorium that was supposed to halt mutual attacks on energy infrastructure expired on Thursday. The deal never firmly took hold, with both Ukraine and Russia frequently accusing each other of violations.
US, Ukraine to conclude mineral deal within week
While a ceasefire appears out of reach at present, a raw materials agreement between Kiev and Washington is set to be concluded by April 26, following final negotiations between Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and US officials.
A memorandum of understanding on the deal, signed by both sides on Thursday, was published by the Ukrainian government on Friday.
Few details, including financial terms, were revealed in the text.
But the final agreement is expected to provide the US with access to Ukraine’s rare earths, which are crucial for high-tech industries.
Kiev, in turn, hopes the deal will strengthen its relationship with the US and secure Washington’s long-term support as a protective power.
The memorandum of understanding emphasizes the significant financial and material assistance the US has provided to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022, potentially indicating that Kiev may need to use the critical minerals as a repayment.
The document also outlines plans to establish a joint investment fund for the reconstruction of Ukraine.
And while it does not address the security guarantees Ukraine is seeking, it says that both the American and Ukrainian people are committed to investing in a “free, sovereign, and secure Ukraine.”
Importantly, the agreement is to be structured to avoid conflicting with Ukraine’s obligations to the European Union and other international partners.
Media reports previously indicated that earlier drafts had raised concerns in Kiev that it could hinder Ukraine’s EU accession aspirations as some provisions could conflict with the bloc’s regulations.
Shmyhal is to travel to Washington next week and meet with US Treasury Scott Bessent to finalize the deal, the memorandum said.
Shortly after taking office in January, US President Donald Trump tied military aid to Ukraine’s access to its valuable rare earth minerals.
However, a deal that was set to be signed collapsed in February following a heated public dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Trump at the White House.
Russian strikes hit Ukrainian cities
A Russian drone strike on the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy killed one person and injured another, acting Mayor Artem Kobzar said early Friday, with other areas also coming under fire overnight.
In the eastern city of Kharkiv, a missile hit a densely populated area, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. Regional military administrator Oleh Sinegubov said the strike damaged a multi-storey residential building and left around 20 people injured, citing preliminary reports.
Explosions were also reported in the suburbs of the capital, Kiev, and in the southern industrial city of Dnipro.
Meanwhile, in Russia’s Rostov region, Governor Yuri Slyusar said air defences had intercepted and destroyed several Ukrainian drones. According to early information, there were no casualties or damage on the ground, he said in a Telegram post.