Marco Rubio, the US’s top diplomat, has told a news briefing the Trump administration could abandon its Ukraine war peace efforts within days unless there’s progress. Meanwhile, a minerals deal between the US and Ukraine looks set to be made official next week. Follow the latest below.
Friday 18 April 2025 08:30, UK
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Some alarming rhetoric coming from the US secretary of state this morning, following his meeting with European partners in Paris yesterday.
Marco Rubio said just moments ago from the French capital that the US will walk away from its efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine unless there are clear signs of progress in the coming days.
„We need to figure out here now, within a matter of days, whether this [peace deal] is doable in the short term, because if it’s not, then I think we’re just going to move on,“ he said.
The US’s top diplomat added that Donald Trump is still interested in pursuing peace, but that the US has many other priorities around the world.
The administration needs clear signs that a deal can be done, he said.
Trump said yesterday he felt a ceasefire was „close“, and that Moscow was set to get back to him regarding a recent proposal imminently.
Donald Trump, during a meeting with Giorgia Meloni at the White House yesterday, made a couple of key comments regarding the war in Ukraine.
He firstly said he expected to hear back from Moscow regarding a ceasefire proposal.
„We’re going to be hearing from them this week, very shortly, actually,“ he said, without providing further details.
He was also pressed on comments he made blaming Volodymyr Zelenskyy for starting the war.
„I don’t hold Zelenskyy responsible, but I’m not exactly thrilled with the fact that war started,“ he said yesterday.
„And, so I’m not happy with him, and I’m not happy with anybody involved, “ he added.
„I’m not blaming him, but what I am saying is that I wouldn’t say he’s done the greatest job. Okay? I’m not a big fan.“
At least one person has died and nearly 60 are injured after a Russian missile strike on a major Ukrainian city in the early hours of this morning, according to local officials.
Ihor Terekhov, the mayor of Kharkiv – Ukraine’s second biggest city – said the attack damaged 15 apartment buildings.
At least five children are among the 57 injured.
Elsewhere this morning, a drone attack on Sumy – another northeastern city – also killed one person and injured another at a factory baking Easter cakes.
Ukraine and the US have signed a memorandum of intent on a mineral and rare earths deal between the two countries, according to Ukraine’s minister for the economy.
Donald Trump said yesterday he expects the deal to be signed next week, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy said an agreement was close.
Trump has pushed for a deal that would allow the US to share in profits of Ukraine’s natural resources and critical minerals.
This is what he casts as repayment for military aid provided by Washington to Ukraine under the previous administration of Joe Biden.
The deal previously looked close but spectacularly collapsed after a disastrous meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House.
Zelenskyy previously accused the US of „constantly“ changing the terms of the proposed deal, but he added he did not want Washington to think Kyiv was against it.
Good morning and welcome back to our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.
Yesterday saw officials from the US, Ukraine and Europe meet for talks in Paris focused on ending the war – which officials said were „positive and constructive“.
But there were more sinister developments on the battlefield.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed Ukraine has uncovered evidence of China supplying Russia with artillery.
Speaking at a news conference, Ukraine’s president also claimed that Beijing is helping with weapons production on Russian territory.
„We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on the territory of Russia,“ he said at a news conference in Kyiv.
He did not specify whether he meant artillery systems or shells.
This morning, we’ll have updates on Russian strikes in Ukraine – and a major development on the US-Ukraine minerals deal.
Stick with us.
We’ll be back soon with all the latest updates from the war in Ukraine.
Until then, here are today’s key lines:
Russia is using a recently-amended „road safety“ law to force residents of occupied Ukraine to obtain Russian citizenship.
The federal law began requiring all drivers in occupied Ukraine to obtain Russian drivers‘ licences as of 1 April.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, residents in those areas that currently possess Ukrainian licences must now apply for a Russian licence before 1 January 2026.
Doing so requires a newly-simplified procedure which forces residents to first submit a Russian passport or resident document, beginning the process of citizenship.
The Ukrainian Resistance Centre responded by calling the scheme „passportizsation on wheels“ on Telegram, labelling it as yet another Russian ploy intended to pressure residents of occupied areas into receiving Russian documentation.
The road safety law will also allow Russian occupation officials to collect personal data on residents of occupied areas, which they can later use against residents in the case of dissent or non-compliance.
A French presidency official has described today’s Ukraine peace talks in Paris as „excellent“ and „constructive“.
As we have been reporting, French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a series of talks today with leaders, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, his German and French counterparts, and Ukrainian officials.
The French official said they have started a process where Europeans are involved in talks over Ukraine’s future.
„The ‚E3‘ are around the table and we’re doing it with a European ambition,“ the senior adviser to Macron told reporters after the talks, referring to France, Britain and Germany.
„What’s important is that we have started a process in Paris today that is positive and where the Europeans are associated,“ he added.
He said a meeting of top negotiators from the same countries will take place in London next week.
President Trump says he doesn’t hold Volodymyr Zelenskyy responsible for the war in Ukraine, but says he is „not a big fan“.
„I don’t hold Zelenskyy responsible, but I’m not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started,“ he says during the White House news conference.
„And, so I’m not happy with him, and I’m not happy with anybody involved, “ he adds.
„I’m not blaming him, but what I am saying is that I wouldn’t say he’s done the greatest job. Okay? I’m not a big fan.“
He adds that there is „no way“ Vladimir Putin would have invaded Ukraine if he had been president at the time, and that now he is „trying to get him to stop“.
For context:
On Monday, Trump said he blamed Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden and Zelenskyy, in that order, for the war.
He said: „Biden could have stopped it, and Zelenskyy could have stopped it, and Putin should have never started it.
„Millions of people are dead because of three people.
„Let’s say Putin number one, let’s say Biden, who had no idea what the hell he was doing, number two, and Zelenskyy.
President Trump is holding a news conference alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the White House.
Asked how long Vladimir Putin has to respond to a ceasefire proposal before facing either tariffs or additional sanctions, Trump said: „We’re going to be hearing from them this week, very shortly, actually.
„But we want it to stop. We want the death and the killing to stop,“ he added.
Addressing Trump, Meloni said: „Together we can build a just and lasting peace. We support your efforts, Donald.“
„I think we are doing well in that effort … I think we are close,“ Trump replies.
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Ukraine war latest: US and Ukraine edge closer to minerals deal – as scores of casualties reported after Russian airstrike – Sky News
