(TNND) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned Friday that the U.S. could "move on" from Ukraine-Russia peace efforts without traction on a deal in the next few days.

“We are now reaching a point where we need to decide and determine whether this is even possible or not, which is why we’re engaging both sides,” Rubio told reporters in Paris, where he and special envoy Steve Witkoff met with European counterparts on ending the war.

Rubio said the administration has been working for months on ending the war, but they’re approaching the point of cutting bait if it’s clear there’s not a path to progress.

“So, we need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the, over the next few weeks,” Rubio said. “If it is, we’re in. If it’s not, then we’ll have to, we have other priorities to focus on, as well.”

Rubio said a broad framework of a deal to stop the fighting has been presented to both sides, Rubio said.

Ukraine and Russia last month agreed to a limited ceasefire, which included a pause on attacks against energy and infrastructure sites.

But Russian foreign policy expert Mark N. Katz said “a matter of days” might not be a realistic deadline for substantial progress on a full, credible ceasefire.

“Obviously they want to do things very quickly,” Katz said of the Trump administration. “I think that the whole point is to try to galvanize something.”

Boise State Professor Michael A. Allen, a political scientist and expert in international relations, noted that President Donald Trump has expressed an expectation that a minerals deal between the U.S. and Ukraine should be finalized soon.

And Allen noted that Vice President JD Vance struck a more optimistic tone Friday while discussing Ukraine-Russia ceasefire talks during a visit to Italy.

Allen said Rubio’s comments might be a negotiating tactic to get Russia to make a credible attempt at a ceasefire.

“Looking at the subtext of it, and looking at what Rubio was talking about, is that the frustration is not with Ukraine this time. It's with Russia,” Allen said. “That they are not getting new agreements, commitments from Russia that would look towards a stable ceasefire.”

The Trump administration realizes that Russia is stringing it along, Allen said.

Katz said Rubio didn’t make it clear what Ukraine and Europe would be left with if the U.S. makes good on its threat to “move on.”

“I think it depends on whom Trump blames for not coming to an agreement,” said Katz, a professor emeritus of government and politics at George Mason University. “If it's Russia, and there have been some indications that Trump is impatient with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, then the possibility is that negotiations end, U.S. military assistance continues (for Ukraine), perhaps even increases. That's a possibility. And, of course, Putin doesn't know necessarily what it's going to be. On the other hand, if Trump blames (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelenskyy, which he seems to be inclined to do for various things, or if he's just fed up, then basically the question is, well then does U.S. assistance to Ukraine continue? If not, does the Trump administration acquiesce to European support? Or does he support it? Or does he try to interfere with it?"

Katz said Putin doesn’t think he needs to strike a ceasefire deal.

Allen said Putin has a history of making overtures towards peace that are really a front for continued aggression.

And Katz said Putin won’t back down unless the costs of the war escalate for him.

European countries must step up and support Ukraine, whether it’s with or without the U.S., Katz said.

“If Russia prevails in Ukraine, they're on the line,” he said.

Katz said Putin wants concessions from Ukraine and the West in a ceasefire.

Putin won’t want the West to keep arming the Ukrainians, Katz said.

Putin likely wants to not only keep what he’s gained but add the rest of the land in partially occupied Ukrainian provinces, according to Katz.

Russia controls nearly 44,000 square miles of Ukraine, or close to a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and parts of Donbas that Russia had seized before its 2022 invasion.

Russia has taken over another 27,000 square miles of Ukraine since its invasion three years ago.

And Putin wants a guarantee that NATO won’t admit Ukraine, which Katz said should be viewed as an untenable demand.

NATO was created in 1949 by the U.S., Canada, and several Western European nations to provide collective security against the Soviet Union.

NATO membership is between NATO and candidate countries, Katz said.

For Ukraine, a ceasefire is about the best it and Zelenskyy can hope for now, with Ukraine agreeing not to go after disputed territory but also not acknowledging Russian claims to that territory.