Trump may abandon Ukraine peace talks ‘within days,’ Rubio warns
PARIS — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned that President Trump will walk away from peace talks with Russia and Ukraine in a matter of days if no progress is made.
Speaking after a day of negotiations in Paris, Rubio said the administration won’t let talks “drag on for weeks or months” and will pivot to other priorities if efforts stall.
“If we’re so far apart this won’t happen, then the president is ready to move on,” Rubio told reporters. He added that Trump wants to determine within days whether a deal is possible.
His remarks contrasted with Vice President Vance’s more positive tone in Rome, where he expressed optimism that recent developments could help end the war. “We do feel optimistic,” Vance said, following a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The Paris meeting, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, included U.S. officials Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, as well as representatives from Ukraine, the United Kingdom and Germany. It marked a shift toward more European involvement in U.S.-led peace efforts.
The urgency reflects a deadline: Trump gave his team 100 days to find a deal after reengaging with Putin in February. Meanwhile, Ukraine has signaled openness to a ceasefire, though Russia has delayed.
Overnight Russian drones and missiles targeted multiple Ukraine cities according to officials there, killing at least two people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks in a post on X. “This is how Russia began this Good Friday – with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Shahed’s – maiming our people and cities”
In the northeastern city of Sumy, only one week after the deadly Palm Sunday strikes there, a bakery producing Easter cakes was struck by a drone, killing one person.
Rubio declined to detail the U.S. peace framework, saying it was too early to finalize decisions like security guarantees. However, he called the Paris talks “very positive” and welcomed further European participation. A follow-up meeting is planned in London next week.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged some progress but cautioned that “many difficult discussions still lie ahead.”
Some of those discussions involve possible business deals between Russia and the United States, which the Kremlin has dangled as an incentive to the Trump administration, and as a chance to break out of economic sanctions on Moscow placed by a number of Western countries since Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Those talks, and a perception in European capitals that the Trump administration is favoring Russia over Ukraine, represent an obstacle to a global peace solution involving the U.S., the European Union, Russia and Ukraine.
Nicolas Tenzer, a professor at Sciences Po university, told NPR the EU countries won’t accept any deal.
“I think the key question right now is when and how the Europeans will say to Trump ‘OK, you can have a deal with Putin but it’s our duty not to respect it.”
Tony Awards 2025: The complete list of winners
NPR is updating this list of Tony Award winners as they are announced.
Pope Leo criticizes political nationalism and prays for reconciliation and dialogue
The pope celebrated Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square in front of tens of thousands faithful, and asked the Holy Spirit to "break down barriers and tear down the walls of indifference and hatred."
These fragile quilts by Black craftspeople need to be preserved — but the federal government has pulled the funds
The Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive was about to launch an exhibition of historic quilts, when federal funding earmarked to conserve them had been canceled.
Palestinians say at least five people killed by Israeli gunfire near Gaza aid centers
Palestinian health officials and witnesses say at least five people were killed and others were wounded by Israeli fire as they headed to two aid distribution points in the Gaza Strip.
Troops arrive in LA as Trump sends National Guard to curb immigration raid protests
In Paramount, Calif., confrontations between immigration enforcement agents and protestors last week led to arrests and the use of flash-bang explosives and pepper spray by law enforcement.
India (and its kids) are out to conquer the world of chess
Chess is seeing a global resurgence, sparked by The Queen's Gambit and the pandemic impact on leisure time. India is an emerging power player, with 85 grandmasters and intense chess schools for youth.