United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated on Friday that Washington is evaluating whether ending the Ukraine war is feasible in the short term. Speaking to reporters before departing Paris, Rubio stated that the US wants to determine within days if a resolution is possible. If not, he warned, "it will be time to move on."

Rubio added that President Donald Trump “feels very strongly” about this position, having invested considerable time and energy into efforts to resolve the conflict. He acknowledged the war’s importance but emphasized that other global priorities may soon take precedence. “There are a lot of other really important things going on that deserve just as much, if not more, attention,” he said.

The Secretary of State commended the French, British, and German representatives for their constructive contributions to talks in Paris, expressing hope that another meeting will take place early next week. Despite the diplomatic progress, Rubio reiterated that the war in Ukraine "has no military solution" and that neither side currently possesses the strategic capability to bring it to a swift conclusion. He stressed that any peace agreement must guarantee Ukraine’s right to defend itself against future aggression.

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance, speaking from Rome, shared a more hopeful perspective, saying he remains "optimistic" about reaching a settlement. Vance noted that ongoing negotiations should not be prejudged, but he expressed hope that the brutal war could be brought to an end. He also planned to update Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the negotiation status and discuss trade matters involving the US, Italy, and the European Union.

In a significant development, Bloomberg reported that the US has proposed a draft peace plan to allies during the Paris meetings. According to European officials familiar with the talks, the plan suggests freezing the conflict in exchange for sanctions relief on Russia, while allowing Moscow to retain control over the Ukrainian territories it currently occupies. The proposal also reportedly includes Ukraine stepping back from its ambition to join NATO.

As negotiations continue, the US appears to be balancing diplomatic efforts with a realistic assessment of the conflict’s trajectory, leaving the door open for shifting focus should peace prove unattainable in the near term.