Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he wants a "strong reaction" from the U.S. government if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not sit down with him for a bilateral meeting.

This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to broker a peace agreement between the two countries, which have been at war since Moscow's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, although Trump has conceded that Putin may not be prepared to make a deal.

Zelenskyy has said he has already agreed to a proposed meeting with Putin.

TRUMP’S PUSH FOR PUTIN-ZELENSKYY TALKS HINGES ON KREMLIN'S CONDITIONS

"I responded immediately to the proposal for a bilateral meeting: We are ready. But what if the Russians are not ready?" Zelenskiy said at a news briefing in Kyiv Wednesday.

"If the Russians are not ready, we would like to see a strong reaction from the United States."

Trump separately met with both leaders in the past week, with Zelenskyy visiting the White House along with other European leaders earlier this week and the U.S. president meeting Putin in Alaska last week.

The White House has said Putin was willing to meet with his Ukrainian foe after a phone call this week with Trump.

"President Trump spoke with President Putin by phone, and he agreed to begin the next phase of the peace process, a meeting between President Putin and President Zelenskyy, which would be followed, if necessary, by a trilateral meeting between President Putin, President Zelensky and President Trump," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday.

The path toward peace between the two sides remains uncertain despite U.S. efforts for diplomacy as the U.S. government and its allies attempt to work out potential security guarantees for Ukraine.

TRUMP CALLS WHITE HOUSE TALKS 'VERY GOOD, EARLY STEP' TOWARD RUSSIA-UKRAINE PEACE: HERE'S WHAT'S NEXT

Zelenskyy said it was unclear what concessions about territory Russia was willing to make to end the conflict. Trump has previously said Kyiv and Moscow would both need to cede territory.

"To discuss what Ukraine is willing to do, let's first hear what Russia is willing to do," Zelenskyy said. "We do not know that."

Reuters contributed to this report.

A California resident has tested positive for the plague after likely being bitten by an infected flea on a Lake Tahoe camping trip, health officials confirmed.

The El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency said Tuesday the individual is recovering at home under medical supervision. 

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) notified local officials of the case, prompting an investigation.

"It’s believed that the person may have been bitten by an infected flea while camping in the South Lake Tahoe area. Health officials are investigating the situation," the county said in a news release.

ARIZONA RESIDENT DIES OF PNEUMONIC PLAGUE, THE FIRST DEADLY CASE IN AREA IN NEARLY 20 YEARS

Plague bacteria are most commonly spread by fleas that have fed on infected squirrels, chipmunks, or other wild rodents. 

From 2021 through 2024, El Dorado County identified 41 rodents showing evidence of plague exposure. In 2025 so far, four more plague-positive rodents have been found in the Tahoe Basin.

Human plague infections are extremely rare in the U.S., averaging about seven cases per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most occur in the western states, particularly northern New Mexico and Arizona.

DOCTORS REVEAL KEY SIGNS OF LYME DISEASE AS TICK SEASON INTENSIFIES ACROSS US

Symptoms often begin with the bubonic form of the plague, which can cause health issues including fever, headache, chills, weakness, and swollen lymph nodes. Without treatment, it can progress to septicemic plague, which can cause stomach pain and bleeding into the skin.

"Plague is naturally present in many parts of California, including higher-elevation areas of El Dorado County," said Kyle Fliflet, the county’s acting public health director.

 "It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking, or camping in areas where wild rodents are present."

RARE TICK-BORNE VIRUS CAUSING NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS DIAGNOSED IN NORTHEASTERN STATE

The most recent human case in El Dorado County before this one was reported in 2020, also thought to have come from the South Lake Tahoe area.

In 2015, two people contracted the plague after exposure to infected rodents or fleas in Yosemite National Park. Both recovered after treatment. Those were the first human cases in California since 2006, officials said.

Health authorities continue to investigate the latest case in Lake Tahoe. 

"The person is fine and under medical care and the investigation is underway," El Dorado Deputy Chief Administrator, Carla Hass, told Fox News Digital.