The United States has signaled it may walk away from peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia within days if no tangible progress is made, according to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Speaking after a high-level meeting in Paris with European officials, Rubio emphasized that while the US wants to help bring an end to the conflict, it won’t continue diplomatic efforts indefinitely without clear signs of advancement.
“We’re not going to drag this out for weeks or months,” Rubio said. “We need to know within days if a deal is possible. If it’s not, we’ll move on—we have other priorities.”
The remarks came shortly after Ukraine and the US signed a memorandum of intent on Thursday, taking initial steps toward an economic partnership that includes establishing a fund for Ukraine’s postwar reconstruction. The memorandum, released by the Ukrainian government, sets a goal of finalizing the agreement by April 26.
While the document doesn’t specify natural resources, past leaks suggest the agreement may involve joint control over Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, including energy, oil, and gas sectors.
Despite this progress, the US has so far withheld offering Ukraine any formal security guarantees to back a future ceasefire.
The memo states that both nations “desire a lasting peace in Ukraine and a durable partnership” and that the American people support investing in a free and sovereign Ukraine.
The diplomatic push comes after tensions between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky disrupted negotiations earlier this year. Their heated exchange at the White House in February temporarily derailed talks on a broader economic agreement.
Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko shared photos on X of the memorandum signing, which was conducted via an online meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Bessent confirmed that discussions were ongoing to finalize the full agreement, expected to span 80 pages.
Meanwhile, former President Trump hinted at the upcoming deal during a press conference with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, saying a “minerals deal” was due to be signed “next Thursday.”
Although the White House has not provided further information, reports suggest the investment fund would be co-managed by Kyiv and Washington, and could also include provisions for Ukraine to repay past military aid through joint investment initiatives.
Zelensky continues to push for stronger security guarantees from the US, warning that a ceasefire without such commitments would leave Ukraine vulnerable.
In Paris, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met with Rubio and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff to explore options for a full ceasefire, potential peacekeeping contingents, and security assurances.
The memorandum also positions the US to gain access to Ukraine’s vast reserves of critical raw materials. Ukraine holds around 5% of the world’s critical minerals and a third of Europe’s lithium reserves—key for battery production. It also has significant deposits of titanium, uranium, and beryllium, materials essential for industries ranging from aerospace to nuclear energy.
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