Trump Administration Warns it Will 'Move on' From Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks

What Happened?

The Trump administration has recently warned that it will walk away from Ukraine and Russia peace talks in a matter of days, if no progress is made.

President Donald Trump informed reporters at the White House on Friday, after months of efforts have failed to bring an end to the conflict that continues to increase death tolls.

'If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re going to say you’re fools, you’re foolish, and we’re just going to take a pass,' Trump said, according to The Associated Press.

Trump added that while negotiations are 'coming to a head,' he reportedly insisted that neither side is 'playing' him.

U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, issued a similar warning after a day of negotiations in Paris that claimed the U.S. is prepared to 'move on' from its goal of brokering a truce deal.

Trump had previously set a 100-day deadline to find a deal with both parties after re-engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February.

Although Ukraine has signaled openness to a ceasefire, there's been hesitation from Russia that has raised serious concerns.

Why it Matters

Ukrainian officials had sounded the alarm after two Russian ballistic missiles ripped through and killed at least 34 people in Sumy on Palm Sunday.

Two children were reportedly among those killed, while at least 117 people were left wounded, in one of the deadliest attacks of the conflict this year.

Russia claimed its attack on Ukraine’s Sumy had targeted a gathering of Ukrainian troops, according to reports.

European leaders, however, condemned the attack as a war crime.

The Kremlin has stood by assertions that Russia’s military only strikes military targets and has accused Kyiv of using civilians by holding military meetings in certain areas.

In an interview on CBS's 60 Minutes, President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his urge for Trump to visit Ukraine before any deal is struck with Putin to end the war.

Zelenskyy has also called for a global response in regard to Russia's latest attack.

How it Affects You

U.S. officials have spoken out against Russia's latest attack and even said it 'crosses any line of decency.'

The months since Putin ignored America’s proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire seriously call into question its commitment to ending the war.

Despite Russian and Ukrainian officials agreeing on a Black Sea ceasefire, the Trump administration appears ready to step aside from future negotiations.

Trump suggested that the U.S. was 'very much on track' with both countries, despite Ukraine only accepting the 30-day ceasefire that was previously proposed.

Moscow still seeks 'ironclad' guarantees that NATO nations exclude Kyiv from membership.

Future hopes for U.S.-Russia relations could also now be impacted.

It is unclear if the Trump administration will be able to follow through on its effort.