According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, the Kremlin is “ready to reach a deal” to end the Ukraine war, which has been ongoing for over three years.

In an excerpt from a CBS News interview scheduled to air in full on Sunday, Lavrov stated his agreement with President ‘s assessment that discussions between Ukraine and Russia are “moving in the right direction.”

Lavrov’s remarks follow criticism from Trump directed at Russian President , urging him to cease the deadly strikes in Ukraine.

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5,000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the peace deal DONE,” Trump stated.

Lavrov also mentioned to CBS News that “some specific points, elements of the deal, which need to be fine-tuned” exist, without elaborating on the specifics of the negotiation.

Furthermore, Lavrov apparently clarified to that Russia would not relinquish Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine in 2014. This stance contrasts with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent declaration that his country would not recognize Russian control over Crimea, deeming it unconstitutional. Trump criticized Zelenskyy’s remark as “inflammatory” and “very harmful” to peace efforts in a post on Truth Social.

“It’s inflammatory that make it so difficult to settle this war,” Trump wrote. In the same post, he urged Russia and Ukraine to “get it done” and reach an agreement.

Putin has not yet accepted a U.S. proposal to halt the war, and the factors that would induce him to sign a deal remain unclear. Nevertheless, the Trump administration remains optimistic about its efforts to resolve the deadly conflict.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump expressed his belief that both Ukraine and Russia “want peace right now” and are “ready to do something.” He then invited Secretary of State Marco Rubio to share his perspective on the status of the peace negotiations.

“This war is endable. Both sides just have to agree to it,” Rubio told reporters. He further noted “good meetings over the weekend,” presumably focused on ending the conflict.

Rubio concluded by stating that the consequences of Russia’s deadly strikes on Ukraine should underscore the importance of achieving peace in the region.