U.S. Secretary of State: "U.S. May Withdraw if No Progress in Ukraine Ceasefire"

"The United States Needs to Focus on Other Priorities"

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that the United States may withdraw from its role as mediator if there is no progress in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.

According to Reuters and AFP on April 18 (local time), Secretary Rubio told reporters before leaving Paris that "we have to determine within the next few days whether a ceasefire is possible," adding, "If it is not possible, the (Trump) President may say, 'We're done here.'"

He continued, "If both sides genuinely want peace, we want to help, but if not, we have to take a different path," and added, "The United States needs to focus on other priorities."

Marcos Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, Visiting France, Photo by Yonhap News

He also said, "I believe the United Kingdom, France, and Germany can help move this issue forward and bring us closer to a resolution," adding, "I think their ideas have been very helpful and constructive."

He went on to say, "I hope they will continue to participate in the negotiations."

Secretary Rubio also mentioned that after the Paris talks, he spoke by phone with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, saying, "I wanted to let Russia know that France and the United Kingdom have taken a constructive attitude."

The previous day, at the Elysee Palace, the French presidential office, Secretary Rubio, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg, and other members of the U.S. delegation met with representatives from Ukraine, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany for a series of talks on a ceasefire plan. These five delegations will continue their discussions next week in London.