United States President Donald Trump stated on Thursday that he believes Russia is prepared to agree to a ceasefire in its conflict with Ukraine, emphasizing the need for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to commit to a peace agreement. 'I think Russia is ready,' Trump said, expressing optimism that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelensky could reach a resolution soon.

Trump made the remarks when asked about the possibility of meeting with Zelensky during the upcoming funeral of Pope Francis. He noted he was unsure whether Zelensky would attend, but added, 'I hope he gets this thing signed off.' The president also hinted at his administration’s potential to mediate the conflict, stating, 'If I could resolve the Ukraine crisis, because of a certain ability, that would be great.'

Reaffirming his stance, Trump remarked, 'We have a deal with Russia. We have to get a deal with Zelensky.' The comments come as international efforts to negotiate peace remain tense and unresolved.

In response, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova accused Ukraine of intentionally derailing diplomatic progress. She claimed Zelensky disrupted the most recent round of talks with the U.S., U.K., France, and Germany and is aiming to 'torpedo the emerging peace process at any cost.' Zakharova further criticized Kyiv’s 'absolute inability to negotiate' and its willingness to prolong war regardless of casualties.

Amid these developments, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed recent media reports suggesting that Washington had considered lifting sanctions on Russia’s energy sector as part of a potential deal. Rubio called the claims 'unequivocally false' in a post on X, denying both his and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s involvement in such discussions. He called the article in question 'journalistic malpractice' and demanded its full retraction.

As the rhetoric sharpens and narratives diverge between Western allies, Kyiv, and Moscow, the viability of a ceasefire hinges on political will and concrete diplomatic engagement from all sides.