If Ending Ukraine War Isn‘t Possible, We May Need To Move On – US Govt

U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, declared on Thursday, April 17, that if a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine proves unattainable, the United States might need to abandon its efforts and redirect its attention elsewhere.

“If it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on,” Rubio said while addressing reporters prior to leaving Paris.
“We need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable.”

His comments come after discussions with European and Ukrainian allies, as the U.S., under President Donald Trump’s leadership, presses for a conclusion to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

According to a State Department summary, a U.S.-proposed framework for a peace plan was met with an “encouraging reception” during the talks, though no details were revealed. Rubio also presented the framework to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Elaborating further, Rubio stressed the need to urgently evaluate the feasibility of peace: “We came to Paris to begin discussing specific outlines of what it might take to end the war. If we’re too far apart and this isn’t going to happen, then I believe the president is ready to say we’re done.”

“It’s not our war. We didn’t start it. The United States has been helping Ukraine for the past three years and we want it to end—but it’s not our war,” he added.

Rubio also underscored President Trump’s direct engagement in peace initiatives, stating: “President Trump has spent 87 days at the highest level of this government making repeated efforts to bring this war to an end. We are now reaching a critical point in determining whether this is even possible, which is why we’re engaging both sides.”

Meanwhile, Russia conducted a missile attack on Kharkiv overnight, striking a residential area. One person was confirmed deceased, and at least 67 others were injured. Authorities are concerned that more individuals may remain trapped beneath the debris of a damaged apartment building.

Rubio’s statements followed closely on the heels of a significant step taken by the U.S. and Ukraine toward a long-awaited minerals agreement.

Ukrainian Economy Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, announced that Kyiv and Washington had signed a Memorandum of Intent, laying the groundwork for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the creation of an Investment Fund for Ukraine’s reconstruction.

“We are happy to announce the signing of this memorandum with our American partners,” Svyrydenko posted on X.

“This document is the result of the professional work of our negotiating teams, which recently concluded another round of discussions in Washington.”

She further explained that the next steps include finalizing the agreement’s text, formally signing it, and pursuing ratification by the parliaments of both nations. “There is still a lot to do,” she noted, “but the current pace and significant progress give us reason to believe this deal will greatly benefit both countries.”

The initial version of the agreement had faltered earlier in the year due to a public dispute between President Zelensky and President Trump.

Negotiations have since restarted, with U.S. Treasury officials recently hosting a Ukrainian delegation in Washington to resolve outstanding issues.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli