The US is putting pressure on Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, with President Trump threatening to impose sanctions if no progress is made soon. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the administration will abandon efforts to broker a peace deal if there is no breakthrough.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Ukrainian officials and German officials in Paris to discuss a ceasefire, marking a significant step towards greater European involvement in US efforts. However, Moscow has refused to accept a comprehensive ceasefire, instead demanding a halt to Ukraine's mobilization efforts and Western arms supplies.
The US administration is considering whether a deal can be reached in the next few weeks, with President Trump threatening to impose sanctions on Russia if they refuse to end their invasion of Ukraine. This includes secondary tariffs on oil imports from Russia, which would have significant economic implications for Moscow.
The involvement of Steve Witkoff, an envoy sent by the Trump administration to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has also been seen as a crucial step in the diplomatic process.