UKRAINE has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States following crucial diplomatic negotiations in Saudi Arabia. The development has prompted Washington to reinstate military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, marking a shift in President Donald Trump’s stance after a period of strained ties.
However, the success of the ceasefire now hinges on Russia’s response.
Following nine hours of discussions at an opulent Jeddah hotel, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the agreement, stating, “Today we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations. We’ll take this offer now to the Russians and we hope they’ll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court.”
President Trump had earlier halted military assistance after a contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on 28 February.
The diplomatic fallout led to the temporary suspension of hundreds of millions of dollars in security aid, a move that had alarmed European allies.
In Washington, Trump expressed optimism over the ceasefire’s prospects, stating, “I hope it will be over the next few days, I’d like to see. I know we have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow and some great conversations hopefully will ensue.”
In a joint statement, Ukraine and the US also confirmed their commitment to swiftly concluding an agreement on American access to Ukraine’s mineral resources, a demand Trump had previously raised as compensation for US military support.
Zelensky, who had endured a tense confrontation at the White House before the suspension of aid, welcomed the latest developments.
“The American side understands our arguments, perceives our proposals, and I want to thank President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams,” he remarked in his nightly address.
Russian response uncertain
Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, is yet to respond formally to the ceasefire proposal. Kyiv has maintained that peace can only be achieved through clear commitments from Moscow.
Andriy Yermak, a senior aide to Zelensky, stated in Jeddah, “Russia needs to say, very clearly, they want peace or not, they want to end this war, which they started, or no.”
Meanwhile, Russian forces have intensified their assaults on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and reclaimed territory in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian incursions had previously been reported.
In response, Ukraine launched a significant drone attack on Moscow, killing three people.
NATO and European reactions
Trump’s shifting stance on Ukraine has unsettled NATO allies, with concerns mounting over Washington’s long-term commitment to European security. France and Germany have signalled an increased focus on independent European defence measures.
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz defended Trump’s approach, stating, “We’ve gone from if the war is going to end to how the war is going to end.”
Rubio is set to visit Canada next to discuss the situation with fellow G7 foreign ministers. He indicated that efforts would be made to avoid “antagonistic” rhetoric that could derail diplomatic efforts with Russia.
In Poland, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the ceasefire agreement as “an important step towards peace.”
Despite the ceasefire breakthrough, several key issues remain. Ukraine has been advocating security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression, but Trump’s administration has ruled out NATO membership for Kyiv.
Waltz confirmed that discussions in Jeddah also covered long-term security arrangements for Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron has previously suggested the possibility of European military involvement in Ukraine as part of any settlement.
