US 'testing' whether Russia is serious about peace in Ukraine: Rubio

European allies urge Washington to demand Moscow prove commitment with a ceasefire

- 

BRUSSELS - The US will know in a matter of weeks if Russia is serious about peace with Ukraine, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on April 4, after European allies accused Moscow of stalling over the Trump administration's call for a ceasefire.

US President Donald Trump, who has promised to bring a quick end to the three-year-old war, has for weeks said he believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin is committed to peace.

Sources have told Reuters the White House has grown wary of Mr. Putin's intentions in recent days, although Mr. Trump continues to signal publicly his belief that Mr. Putin wants to end the war.

"We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not. I hope they are," Mr. Rubio said at the end of a two-day NATO meeting.

"If this is dragging things out, President Trump's not going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations about negotiations," Mr. Rubio said.