United States may soon end its efforts to help broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine if there are no clear signs that a ceasefire is possible, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

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“We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end,” Rubio said, stressing that the US must begin focusing on other pressing issues.

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Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has since outlined several conditions for agreeing to a ceasefire.

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Although the Trump administration initially believed a peace deal could be achieved quickly, negotiations have stalled. The US has blamed both Russia and Ukraine for the lack of progress.

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Speaking after a meeting with European leaders in Paris on Thursday about ending the war, Rubio told reporters on Friday: “We need to determine very quickly now – and I'm talking about a matter of days – whether or not this is doable" in the short-term. “If it's not going to happen, then we're just going to move on,” he added.

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Rubio acknowledged the difficulty of reaching a peace deal but said there must be signs that it is possible soon. Before returning to the White House, President Donald Trump had promised to end the war within 24 hours of taking office.

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Rubio’s remarks come as Russian missile attacks on Ukraine continue. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media that two people had died in the latest round of strikes.

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Meanwhile, the US and Ukraine have resumed discussions on a potential minerals agreement, following a delay caused by a heated exchange between Trump and Zelensky during a previous meeting.

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On Thursday, the US and Ukraine signed a memorandum of intent outlining plans to create an investment fund to support Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction. This initiative is part of a broader economic partnership between the two nations.

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According to the memo released by the Ukrainian government, both sides hope to finalise the agreement by April 26.

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Although specific terms are still unclear, earlier reports suggest the deal could go beyond just mineral resources. It may also include cooperation on Ukraine’s energy sector, including oil and gas infrastructure.

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Ukrainian negotiators have pushed back against former President Trump’s request that the fund be used to repay the US for past military aid. However, they appear to have accepted his argument that the fund would help Ukraine recover after the war.

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The memorandum states: "The American people desire to invest alongside the Ukrainian people in a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine."

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President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed hope that this agreement could lead to a security guarantee from the US in the event of a ceasefire. Speaking to European leaders last month, he said: "A ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine."

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So far, the US has not agreed to provide formal security guarantees. The White House believes that the presence of American businesses in Ukraine would discourage further Russian aggression — although that strategy failed to prevent the 2022 invasion.

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