The United States has set a deadline for Russia to respond to questions about its willingness to engage in peace talks. US Congress has already started drafting a bill to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow. According to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, America will not engage in endless discussions and expects a clear response from the Kremlin within a specific timeframe.
Rubio stated that negotiations would be the only way to end the war, requiring compromises from both sides. However, he declined to discuss what those compromises might be, saying they would depend on Ukraine’s and Russia’s conditions at the time. He emphasised that the US is not interested in talks about talks and wants to see if Russia is genuinely ready for peace. The time for a response is nearing, and Washington is prepared to increase economic pressure through stricter sanctions.
Rubio also noted that Ukrainians have already shown a willingness to agree to a ceasefire and open the door for negotiations. Now, the US wants to see if Vladimir Putin is prepared to do the same. If Russia’s strategy is to stall and delay, the US will not entertain it. The administration, led by President Donald Trump, will not be drawn into a cycle of negotiations without concrete action.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that discussions about a complete ceasefire are taking place. He stated that Ukraine is open to the possibility, but the focus is on applying pressure on Russia to force an agreement in the coming weeks or months. Meanwhile, Fox News journalist Jackie Heinrich reported that Trump believes Putin is deliberately dragging out the process to buy time. The administration is therefore considering aggressive economic measures, including targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet” used to bypass sanctions.
