Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hopes Pope Francis’s funeral presents an opportunity for him to meet with President Donald Trump.

Ukrainian leaders wanted to speak with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump envoy Steven Witkoff at peace talks Wednesday in London, but neither is expected to attend. State Department officials said Rubio was not planning on attending, and Witkoff is headed to Russia.

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Rubio and Witkoff had been expected to meet with a myriad of foreign officials representing France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine. Trump’s envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, will attend the talks.

“We look forward to hearing back from him about whether or not we’ve had some success in London,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said at a briefing.

Zelensky said he is ready to discuss an “unconditional ceasefire or partial ceasefire” during the talks.

The Ukrainian president has accused Russia of stalling peace talks to tire the United States of seeking peace. Zelensky said Russia would have to agree to an unconditional ceasefire before any negotiations can take place.

“I think [Russia is] afraid of direct talks,” Zelensky said. “Maybe they indeed are afraid that the Americans will leave the negotiations.”

Zelensky added that his country will not recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea, which was previously Ukrainian territory until 2014. The U.S. is willing to concede Crimea to Russia and recognize it while easing sanctions if a deal is made. Rubio expressed pessimism in a podcast appearance Tuesday, although he said he “should be optimistic” that the two sides could agree to anything.

“They may be too far apart, but I hope not,” he said. “We should be optimistic. We should be willing, as we are, to do whatever it takes to bring the two sides closer. And hopefully we can be successful. But ultimately, it’s not up to us. It’s up to Russia, and it’s up to Ukraine. They have to make the decision that they’re willing to move closer to one another. And we need to start to see progress.”

The Ukrainian leader previously accused Russia of breaking its Easter ceasefire nearly 3,000 times. Russian attacks on Ukraine have since reescalated to their preholiday intensity. Zelensky posted about a Russian drone attack on a civilian bus Wednesday morning in Marhanets, calling it an “absolutely deliberate war crime.”

Trump and Zelensky will likely at least cross paths at Francis’s funeral, which is set for Saturday. While the late pope often prayed for peace in Ukraine, he said last year that the country should have the courage “of the white flag” and negotiate with Russia.

Numerous other foreign leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, will attend. Zelensky mourned Francis’s death on Monday.

“He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity,” Zelensky said in a post on X. “He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support. Eternal memory!”

Trump said this week that he is optimistic that a deal can get done. Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that if neither side agrees to the U.S.’s proposed deal, they may “walk away” from the process.

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“We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process,” Vance told reporters. “The only way to really stop the killing is for the armies to both put down their weapons, to freeze this thing and to get on with the business of actually building a better Russia and a better Ukraine.”

In a sign of closer relations between the two countries, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said they are “shooting for around April 26” to sign a minerals deal between the two countries that Trump abandoned after his White House feud with Zelensky.