US Vice President JD Vance has declared he doesn't see an end to the Russia-Ukraine war 'any time soon' as Secretary for State Marco Rubio admitted Donald Trump needs to find a breakthrough quickly in ceasefire negotiations. 'It's going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict,' Vance said in an interview on Fox News last night with host Bret Baier. 'It's not going anywhere, Bret. It's not going to end any time soon.' He went on to admit that it was difficult to be confident that an end to the war was in sight, because the Russians and Ukrainians 'have to take the final step' and 'come to their senses', before trivializing Russia's invasion of its sovereign neighbor.

US Vice President JD Vance has declared he doesn’t see an end to the Russia-Ukraine war ‘any time soon’ as Secretary for State Marco Rubio admitted Donald Trump needs to find a breakthrough quickly in ceasefire negotiations. ‘It’s going to be up to them to come to an agreement and stop this brutal, brutal conflict,’ Vance said in an interview on Fox News last night with host Bret Baier. ‘It’s not going anywhere, Bret. It’s not going to end any time soon.’ He went on to admit that it was difficult to be confident that an end to the war was in sight, because the Russians and Ukrainians ‘have to take the final step’ and ‘come to their senses’, before trivializing Russia’s invasion of its sovereign neighbor.

'For the Ukrainians, yes, of course they are angry that they were invaded, but are we going to continue to lose thousands and thousands of soldiers over a few miles of territory this or that way?' Vance said. Meanwhile, Rubio - who is now also fulfilling the duties of US national security adviser following the resignation of Mike Waltz - warned Trump would have to decide how much time to devote to resolving the war if there was not a significant breakthrough in negotiations very soon. 'I think we know where Ukraine is, and we know where Russia is right now... They're closer, but they're still far apart,' he added during an interview on Fox News' Hannity program. The disheartening admissions from Washington's top officials came hours after Kyiv and Washington signed a long-anticipated deal giving the United States preferential access to Ukrainian minerals.

‘For the Ukrainians, yes, of course they are angry that they were invaded, but are we going to continue to lose thousands and thousands of soldiers over a few miles of territory this or that way?’ Vance said. Meanwhile, Rubio – who is now also fulfilling the duties of US national security adviser following the resignation of Mike Waltz – warned Trump would have to decide how much time to devote to resolving the war if there was not a significant breakthrough in negotiations very soon. ‘I think we know where Ukraine is, and we know where Russia is right now… They’re closer, but they’re still far apart,’ he added during an interview on Fox News’ Hannity program. The disheartening admissions from Washington’s top officials came hours after Kyiv and Washington signed a long-anticipated deal giving the United States preferential access to Ukrainian minerals.

The agreement, which is yet to be approved by the Ukrainian Parliament, is considerably less exploitative than the initial deal proposed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier this year, but will still see Washington profit extensively from Ukrainian natural resources. It is hoped the US commitment to invest in Ukrainian infrastructure could facilitate ceasefire negotiations as Bessent said the agreement will show the 'Russian leadership that there is no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people, between our goals'. Bessent also said that the signing of the deal 'signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centerd on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term'.

The agreement, which is yet to be approved by the Ukrainian Parliament, is considerably less exploitative than the initial deal proposed by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent earlier this year, but will still see Washington profit extensively from Ukrainian natural resources. It is hoped the US commitment to invest in Ukrainian infrastructure could facilitate ceasefire negotiations as Bessent said the agreement will show the ‘Russian leadership that there is no daylight between the Ukrainian people and the American people, between our goals’. Bessent also said that the signing of the deal ‘signals clearly to Russia that the Trump administration is committed to a peace process centerd on a free, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine over the long term’.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that the signing of the minerals deal was the 'first result' of the meeting he had with Trump at the Vatican during the pope's funeral and called the agreement 'truly historic'. During his nightly address yesterday he said that, per the signed agreement, there were no debts to be paid from past US aid to Kyiv, describing the deal as 'truly equal' and one that 'creates an opportunity for investments in Ukraine'. 'This is working together with America and on fair terms, when both the Ukrainian state and the United States, which help us in defense, can earn in partnership,' he added. Tymofiy Mylovanov, former economy minister and current president of the Kyiv School of Economics, said that despite what he described as 'unimaginable pressure' during negotiations on the minerals deal, Ukraine succeeded in defending its interests.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that the signing of the minerals deal was the ‘first result’ of the meeting he had with Trump at the Vatican during the pope’s funeral and called the agreement ‘truly historic’. During his nightly address yesterday he said that, per the signed agreement, there were no debts to be paid from past US aid to Kyiv, describing the deal as ‘truly equal’ and one that ‘creates an opportunity for investments in Ukraine’. ‘This is working together with America and on fair terms, when both the Ukrainian state and the United States, which help us in defense, can earn in partnership,’ he added. Tymofiy Mylovanov, former economy minister and current president of the Kyiv School of Economics, said that despite what he described as ‘unimaginable pressure’ during negotiations on the minerals deal, Ukraine succeeded in defending its interests.

'This is a huge political and diplomatic win for Ukraine,' Mylovanov wrote on Facebook. 'The deal looks fair.' Mylovanov said the deal does not restrict Kyiv to selling only to American buyers and instead recognizes contributions from both sides - Ukraine's in the form of revenues from new projects, and the US potentially through military assistance. Russia is yet to comment on the signing of the deal between America and Ukraine but continued its barrage of Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian positions overnight . A drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa killed two people and injured 15 others, Ukrainian emergency services said.

‘This is a huge political and diplomatic win for Ukraine,’ Mylovanov wrote on Facebook. ‘The deal looks fair.’ Mylovanov said the deal does not restrict Kyiv to selling only to American buyers and instead recognizes contributions from both sides – Ukraine’s in the form of revenues from new projects, and the US potentially through military assistance. Russia is yet to comment on the signing of the deal between America and Ukraine but continued its barrage of Ukrainian infrastructure and civilian positions overnight . A drone strike on the Black Sea port city of Odesa killed two people and injured 15 others, Ukrainian emergency services said.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper said the barrage struck apartment buildings, private homes, a supermarket and a school, sharing videos on Telegram showed a high-rise building with a severely damaged facade, a shattered storefront and firefighters battling flames. A drone struck and ignited a fire at a petrol station in the centre of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Following the attacks, Zelensky said that Russia had ignored a US proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire for more than 50 days now. 'There were also our proposals - at the very least, to refrain from striking civilian infrastructure and to establish lasting silence in the sky, at sea, and on land,' he said.

Regional governor Oleh Kiper said the barrage struck apartment buildings, private homes, a supermarket and a school, sharing videos on Telegram showed a high-rise building with a severely damaged facade, a shattered storefront and firefighters battling flames. A drone struck and ignited a fire at a petrol station in the centre of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Following the attacks, Zelensky said that Russia had ignored a US proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire for more than 50 days now. ‘There were also our proposals – at the very least, to refrain from striking civilian infrastructure and to establish lasting silence in the sky, at sea, and on land,’ he said.

'Russia has responded to all this with new shelling and new assaults.' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow earlier this week that Vladimir Putin supports the initiative to establish a lasting ceasefire. 'But before going for it, a whole series of questions need to be answered and a whole series of nuances need to be resolved,' he said . Peskov's declaration came days after Kremlin rejected a seven-point plan to end the war set out by the US that would recognize Moscow's control of Crimea and effectively freeze the frontline in place.

‘Russia has responded to all this with new shelling and new assaults.’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow earlier this week that Vladimir Putin supports the initiative to establish a lasting ceasefire. ‘But before going for it, a whole series of questions need to be answered and a whole series of nuances need to be resolved,’ he said . Peskov’s declaration came days after Kremlin rejected a seven-point plan to end the war set out by the US that would recognize Moscow’s control of Crimea and effectively freeze the frontline in place.

The plan, presented by the Trump administration to European allies earlier this month, is widely seen as a land-for-peace deal that would allow Putin to keep Ukrainian territory seized by his forces while assuring that Ukraine would not join NATO. However, Sergei Lavrov, Russia 's veteran Foreign Minister, declared Monday in a written interview with Brazilian outlet O Globo that the Kremlin would only accept a ceasefire if various strict terms are met. These include the removal of Zelensky and what he called Ukraine's 'neo-Nazi' regime, international recognition of Russian sovereignty over the four annexed Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and a restriction on the size of Ukraine's army, among other measures. 'All the commitments Kiev assumes must be legally binding, contain enforcement mechanisms and be permanent,' Lavrov wrote on Monday.

The plan, presented by the Trump administration to European allies earlier this month, is widely seen as a land-for-peace deal that would allow Putin to keep Ukrainian territory seized by his forces while assuring that Ukraine would not join NATO. However, Sergei Lavrov, Russia ‘s veteran Foreign Minister, declared Monday in a written interview with Brazilian outlet O Globo that the Kremlin would only accept a ceasefire if various strict terms are met. These include the removal of Zelensky and what he called Ukraine’s ‘neo-Nazi’ regime, international recognition of Russian sovereignty over the four annexed Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, and a restriction on the size of Ukraine’s army, among other measures. ‘All the commitments Kiev assumes must be legally binding, contain enforcement mechanisms and be permanent,’ Lavrov wrote on Monday.

'Demilitarizing and de-Nazifying Ukraine is also on the agenda, along with lifting sanctions, withdrawing lawsuits and cancelling arrest warrants, as well as returning Russian assets subjected to the so-called freeze in the West.' Lavrov's open rejection of the US devised plan followed Putin's declaration of a three-day ceasefire from May 8-10, which was ridiculed by Ukrainian officials and analysts as a 'trick' and 'cynical '. Dara Massicot, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank focusing on Russian defence, pointed out that Putin likely doesn't want the threat of Ukraine air attacks to disrupt Russia's Victory Day on May 9. Russia is set to hold major celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II. 'The Kremlin wants a ceasefire for those days because it can't suitably defend airspace from Ukrainian drones and they want a smooth 80th anniversary victory day parade,' she said.

‘Demilitarizing and de-Nazifying Ukraine is also on the agenda, along with lifting sanctions, withdrawing lawsuits and cancelling arrest warrants, as well as returning Russian assets subjected to the so-called freeze in the West.’ Lavrov’s open rejection of the US devised plan followed Putin’s declaration of a three-day ceasefire from May 8-10, which was ridiculed by Ukrainian officials and analysts as a ‘trick’ and ‘cynical ‘. Dara Massicot, Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think tank focusing on Russian defence, pointed out that Putin likely doesn’t want the threat of Ukraine air attacks to disrupt Russia’s Victory Day on May 9. Russia is set to hold major celebrations commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II. ‘The Kremlin wants a ceasefire for those days because it can’t suitably defend airspace from Ukrainian drones and they want a smooth 80th anniversary victory day parade,’ she said.

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