Ukraine has accepted an American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and agreed to enter immediate negotiations with Russia, marking a significant step after three years of prolonged conflict. The pivotal talks took place in Jeddah on Tuesday, signaling a potential shift toward peace.
This high-level US-Ukraine meeting, the first since President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent confrontation with President Joe Biden, led to the US agreeing to restore military aid to Ukraine and pledging to finalize a deal regarding Ukrainian minerals “as soon as possible,” according to a joint statement.
“Today, we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted: a ceasefire and immediate negotiations,” said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “We will present this offer to the Russians, and we hope they will choose peace. The ball is now in their court,” he added.
The joint statement confirmed that Ukraine had agreed to the 30-day interim ceasefire, with the possibility of extension by mutual consent of both parties. However, it is “subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation.” The US also made it clear that Russian reciprocity is essential for peace.
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz indicated that he would soon communicate with Russia about the proposal, stressing that it was no longer a question of “if” the war would end, but “how.”
The talks took place after Ukraine launched a significant drone attack on Moscow, marking its largest direct assault on the Russian capital and leaving three dead. Ukrainian officials hope that their proposal for a sea and sky ceasefire, cautiously endorsed by Rubio, would help advance peace negotiations.
“We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,” said Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to President Zelensky, as he entered the meeting in Jeddah.
Ukrainian officials indicated that the massive drone strike was aimed at signaling to Russian President Vladimir Putin that he should consider a ceasefire in both air and sea operations. Andriy Kovalenko, a national security official, noted, “This is an additional signal to Putin that he should also be interested in a ceasefire in the air.”
On the issue of Ukrainian minerals, Zelensky had met with Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler in Jeddah on Monday. Earlier, during a meeting with Trump in Washington, Zelensky had refrained from signing an agreement that would allow the US control over Ukrainian mineral resources, something that had been pushed by Trump’s administration.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov dismissed the idea of negotiations, saying, “There are no negotiations yet, so there is nothing to disrupt here.” He declined to comment on Russia’s stance on the proposed partial ceasefire, adding, “The Americans will find out only today, from Ukraine, to what extent Ukraine is ready for peace.”
Meanwhile, Russia has intensified its strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure, claiming it had retaken 12 settlements in the Kursk region that Ukraine had previously captured, seeking leverage in any potential negotiations.
In response to Zelensky’s earlier confrontation with Vice President JD Vance at the White House, Rubio signaled that the Trump administration might support Ukraine’s proposal for a partial ceasefire, describing it as an essential step toward conflict resolution. “I’m not saying that alone is enough, but it’s the kind of concession you would need to see in order to end the conflict,” Rubio said.
Rubio also indicated that he would present ideas from the Jeddah talks to Russia. Last month, Rubio and Waltz met with Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia, resuming high-level contacts that had been suspended by the Biden administration after Russia’s invasion.
Trump, however, has recently signaled a shift in US policy, suggesting Ukraine bore some responsibility for the war and even sided with Russia at the United Nations. This pivot has raised concerns among US allies.
Rubio stated that the US would oppose any “antagonistic” language on Russia at an upcoming Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting.
AFP
