**Trump says US will 'pass' on Ukraine peace talks if no progress soon**

 

Trump Signals Possible U.S. Exit From Ukraine-Russia Peace Efforts

In comments to reporters at the White House, President Donald Trump said the United States could step back from mediating peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine if progress proves too difficult.

"We want a peace deal — and fast," Trump said from the Oval Office on Thursday. "But if either side makes things unnecessarily hard, we’re just going to walk away. We’ll call them out for being foolish or unreasonable and move on."

Trump stressed he wasn't setting a deadline but wanted to avoid dragging talks out indefinitely. His remarks follow similar comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said the U.S. would “just move on” from its role in peace talks unless there's clear movement toward a deal in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched nearly 100 drones and missiles in overnight attacks, highlighting the continued intensity of the conflict.

U.S. May Consider Recognising Crimea as Russian — Report

According to a Bloomberg report, the United States is open to the possibility of recognising Russian sovereignty over Crimea as part of a larger peace agreement. Sources told the outlet that while no final decision has been made, Washington is considering it as a bargaining chip in talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

Crimea, a region with deep historical ties to Russia, was annexed by Moscow in 2014, a move not internationally recognised by most countries. Initially cautious about retaking the territory, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy became more assertive about reclaiming Crimea as Ukrainian forces gained ground throughout the war.

Russia Says Peace Talks Making Headway, But U.S. Role “Complicated”

The Kremlin said on Friday that there had been some progress in negotiations but acknowledged that engagement with the U.S. remains challenging.

“Talks are complex, of course,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. “But Russia is committed to resolving the conflict and is open to dialogue — as long as our national interests are secured.”

Asked whether the U.S. might withdraw from the peace process, Peskov said that was “a question for Washington,” but noted that “some progress can already be observed.”

Speaking earlier in Paris, Secretary of State Marco Rubio reiterated that the U.S. would not stay involved indefinitely without signs of serious movement toward peace.