US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that Russia is willing to negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine, while accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of resisting efforts to reach a settlement. Speaking to reporters, Trump suggested that opportunities to resolve the war had existed previously and that Zelensky missed chances to secure more favorable terms by not engaging in talks earlier.
“I think that Russia would like to make a deal,” Trump said, adding that Zelensky appears unwilling to negotiate. Trump also called for Ukraine to hold elections replacing Zelensky with a leader more open to reaching an agreement with Russia. He cited Russian President Vladimir Putin’s interest in a settlement, noting that Russia was supplying more oil to global markets as part of this stance.
These comments followed a recent phone conversation between Trump and Putin, after which Trump announced an arrangement for Russia to provide diesel fuel to the United States and other international consumers. Ukrainian President Zelensky criticized the deal, warning that increased energy revenues could help fund Russia’s military operations in Ukraine.
Zelensky stated on Sunday that Ukraine is prepared to suspend attacks on Russian oil refineries if Russia halts its strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, emphasizing that any de-escalation must be reciprocal and supported by strong guarantees.
Meanwhile, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met in Miami on Friday with Ukrainian and European representatives as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a resolution to the conflict. The Kremlin, however, indicated on Friday that Ukrainian drone attacks during Russia’s recent parliamentary elections had damaged the prospects for an immediate resumption of peace talks.
In related developments, Ukrainian drone strikes have targeted Russian infrastructure in recent days. A Ukrainian drone attack disabled a data center operated by Russian technology company Yandex in Vladimir, east of Moscow, causing widespread service outages affecting users across multiple Russian cities as well as in Kazakhstan, Belarus, and Armenia. This marked the third attack on Yandex facilities within four days.
On Saturday, a Russian glide bomb struck Zaporizhzhia in southeastern Ukraine, killing 20 people, including three children, according to Ukraine’s state rescue service. Witnesses described rescuers pulling survivors from the rubble at the scene.
Also on Saturday, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham expressed strong support for Zelensky amid tensions arising from the US-Russia diesel agreement. During a phone call, Burnham acknowledged the difficulties Ukraine had faced in recent days and affirmed the UK’s commitment to intensifying sanctions against Russia. Plans were made for further in-person discussions between the two leaders in the coming days.