Rubio says ceasefire deal between Russia, Ukraine is not 'off the table'

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that a potential ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine is “not off the table,” as the U.S. participates in talks to bring the ongoing war to an end.

“It was agreed to by all that the best way to end this conflict is through a full peace deal,” Rubio said during a "Meet the Press" interview on NBC News. “There’s no doubt about that. I mean, who would be against the fact that tomorrow we came to you and said, ‘We have a full peace deal, and it’s done.’ I think that’s the best way to end the war.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is to meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday with other European leaders to talk about potentially ending the war. 

Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska where he said "progress" had been made with Russia. 

Rubio said in the past that the U.S. had pushed for a ceasefire, but Russia did not agree to that.

“We think usually it’s very hard to negotiate when you’re in the middle of hostilities," Rubio said. "But that said, the only way to have a ceasefire is for both sides to agree to stop firing at one another ... and the Russians just haven’t agreed to that."

When asked about new sanctions on Russia, Rubio said he doubted they would force Russia into a ceasefire.

“I don’t think new sanctions on Russia are going to force them to accept ceasefire," he said. "They’re already under very severe sanctions."