The Kremlin has shared an update on its stance on peace talks with Ukraine after a US official warned that Donald Trump might 'walk away' from negotiations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the President's patience was wearing thin and suggested he is seriously considering rescinding his involvement in the attempts to find a solution to end the conflict.
Rubio told reporters that the US administration wants to decide on how to move forward 'in a matter of days' while in Paris earlier this week for further talks about brokering a peace deal.
"We are now reaching a point where we need to decide whether this is even possible or not," Rubio said of reaching agreeable terms with Russia and Ukraine.
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"Because if it’s not, then I think we’re just going to move on. It’s not our war. We have other priorities to focus on."
Rubio said that Trump is 'probably at a point where he’s going to say, well, we’re done', while suggesting that the President is becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress.
The commander-in-chief himself also shared some comments about the negotiations following Rubio's warning, insisting neither Russia nor Ukraine is 'playing' the US.
He reckons that the talks to end the war are 'coming to a head', but added: "Now, if for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re just going to say you’re foolish."
"You are fools, you horrible people," Trump said. "And we’re going to just take a pass. But hopefully, we won’t have to do that."
The businessman claimed he could end the long-raging war within a day repeatedly on the campaign trail before he was elected, and recently reveals he blames three people for the continued bloodshed.
Now, Russia have responded to the US' threat to walk away from the negotiations.
On Friday (18 March), Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed that communications had become 'complicated' as of late in terms of trying to hammer out a peace deal.
"Contacts are quite complicated, because, naturally, the topic is not an easy one," Peskov told reporters. "Russia is committed to resolving this conflict, ensuring its own interests, and is open to dialogue. We continue to do this."
Discussing the possibility of the US withdrawing itself from the negotiation, the Kremlin suggested that was up to Washington.
"We believe that some progress can already be noted," Peskov continued.
"Therefore, certain developments have already been achieved, but, of course, there are still many complex discussions ahead."
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, also shared his thoughts on the US' involvement in a post on X.
He wrote: "American officials have said that if there is no progress on the Ukrainian case, the United States will wash its hands of it. Wisely. And the EU should do the same. Then Russia will figure it out faster."
However, experts reckon the peace talks could fall apart without the US.
Topics: Donald Trump, Russia, Ukraine, US News
Olivia Burke