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Concerns Rise Over Russia-Ukraine Peace Deal Talks
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Friday that President Donald Trump may abandon efforts to mediate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine unless there are visible indications that a resolution is achievable soon. Rubio emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “We need to determine very quickly now… whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks.” His remarks followed discussions in Paris with European and Ukrainian leaders.
Rubio highlighted Trump’s strong commitment to the peace process, acknowledging the considerable time and energy the President has invested. However, he also noted the growing number of pressing geopolitical issues that require urgent attention alongside the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
This warning from Rubio comes against a backdrop of emerging progress in U.S.-Ukraine negotiations. Trump expressed optimism on Thursday, suggesting he anticipates signing a deal with Kyiv the following week aimed at allowing U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources. Notably, previous attempts to finalize a minerals agreement in February were derailed due to tensions during a meeting between Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Vice President JD Vance.
In a significant development, the recent high-level, in-person talks in Paris, which included European nations, garnered what Rubio termed an “encouraging reception” for a proposed U.S. peace framework. Zelenskyy’s office characterized the discussions as constructive.
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A chaotic meeting aimed at finalizing a minerals agreement between U.S. President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy raised serious questions regarding the future of relations between the two countries and the feasibility of achieving a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
Rubio’s statements reflect the growing frustrations within the White House due to sluggish progress on various international challenges. During his campaign, Trump pledged to resolve the Ukraine conflict within his first day in office but later adjusted that timeline to suggest a deal might be reached by April or May amid increasing difficulties.
After the Paris meetings, Rubio noted that he had conversed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, conveying that the discussions were constructive and sharing some elements of the U.S. peace framework. He mentioned that the issue of U.S. security guarantees arose during the talks, though he refrained from providing detailed commentary.
Rubio described potential solutions regarding security guarantees, affirming that these could be addressed in a manner acceptable to all parties involved. Nonetheless, he acknowledged the complexities and broader challenges at hand, stating the necessity of gauging the proximity of differing positions and the likelihood of progress within a limited timeframe.
As the situation develops, the French presidency and foreign ministry have not yet responded to inquiries for further comments on the ongoing negotiations.
Source
www.cbc.ca