US threatens to quit peace talks without 'real pledges'

WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Tuesday that the United States would give up on mediation unless Russia and Ukraine put forward “concrete proposals’, as US patience wears thing.

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US president Donald Trump had vowed to end the war in his first 24 hours back in the White House but, as he celebrated 100 days in office yesterday, Mr Rubio has suggested the administration could soon turn attention to other issues.

“We are now at a time where concrete proposals need to be delivered by the two parties on how to end this conflict,’ State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters, in what she said was a message from Mr Rubio.

“If there is not progress, we will step back as mediators in this process.”

She said it would ultimately be up to Mr Trump to decide whether to move ahead on diplomacy.