Ukraine has stated it is able to settle for a US proposal for an instantaneous 30-day ceasefire in its conflict with Russia, prompting Washington to comply with resume navy help to Kyiv.
The proposed ceasefire, which might nonetheless have to be agreed by Russia, was introduced in a joint assertion that capped a number of hours of talks between US and Ukrainian officers in Saudi Arabia.
Washington stated it will instantly restore deliveries of weapons and ammunition and finish its suspension of intelligence-sharing, which Kyiv feared would critically hamper its capability to detect and hit targets past the battlefield.
US President Donald Trump stated he hoped Russia would comply with the ceasefire, and that he deliberate to talk with Vladimir Putin.
“Ukraine has agreed to it, and hopefully Russia will comply with it,” Trump informed reporters exterior the White Home.
Maria Zakharova, Russia’s international ministry spokesperson, stated Moscow did “not exclude contacts with US representatives within the subsequent few days”, in line with state newswire Tass.
The ceasefire, which might be prolonged with the settlement of each events, would transcend the partial truce steered by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier than the essential assembly with US officers in Jeddah. That proposal was solely supposed to use to long-range drone and missile strikes in addition to navy actions within the Black Sea.
Tuesday’s ceasefire plan comes hours after Russian officers reported the largest drone assault on Moscow by Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with greater than 90 drones focusing on the capital and 343 downed in whole throughout the nation.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who led the US staff, stated: “Earlier than you’ll be able to negotiate, you need to cease capturing at one another.”
On Telegram, Zelenskyy stated the US had proposed a “full ceasefire for 30 days, not solely concerning missiles, drones and bombs, not solely within the Black Sea, but in addition alongside all the entrance line”.
“Ukraine accepts this proposal, we think about it optimistic, we’re able to take such a step,” he wrote.
“The US should persuade Russia to do that,” he added.
US nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz, who additionally took half within the Jeddah negotiations, stated the 2 sides had mentioned “substantive particulars” on how the conflict would completely finish.
This included “what ensures they’re going to have for his or her long-term safety and prosperity, but in addition actually taking a look at what it’s going to take to lastly finish this”, Waltz added.
He stated Trump would “instantly” raise the US pause on assist and safety help. Waltz added he deliberate to talk along with his Russian counterpart “within the coming days”.
Zelenskyy had lengthy pushed again in opposition to a cessation of hostilities with out preparations for monitoring and enforcement and safety ensures to discourage an additional Russian assault, concerning it as a phoney deal that Moscow would exploit.
However his resistance angered Washington, culminating in a spectacular bust-up with Trump within the White Home on February 28 adopted by the suspension of navy assist and intelligence-sharing.
Zelenskyy sought to patch up relations by proposing a cessation of drone, missile and air strikes and a pause to all maritime operations. European officers stated such a partial truce could be simpler to watch and implement.
A senior Ukrainian official informed the Monetary Instances from Jeddah that Kyiv was “OK with the ceasefire”, which now places the ball in Moscow’s court docket.
“The query is Russia — what are they prepared for?” they added.
Rubio stated the US hopes “Russia will say sure”, in order that “talks can start about the right way to finish this conflict completely in a manner that’s acceptable and enduring for each side”.
The Ukrainian official stated the delegations mentioned the joint minerals extraction deal that was meant to be signed in Washington however was postponed after the acrimonious talks between Trump and Zelenskyy within the Oval Workplace.
“When [Washington is] prepared [to sign the deal] — we’re prepared,” the official stated.
Requested if Zelenskyy could be invited again to the White Home, Trump added: “Positive, completely.”
One other Ukrainian official concerned in negotiations over the minerals deal stated no amendments had been made for the reason that FT first reported that an settlement had been reached by the 2 sides.
Nevertheless, the official stated additional negotiations would happen when drawing up the construction of the funding fund beneath the primary settlement.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, one in every of Europe’s key gamers within the battle, serving to to fix relations between Zelenskyy and Trump, known as the US-Ukraine talks “an vital second for peace in Ukraine”. He added “we now all must redouble our efforts to get to a long-lasting and safe peace as quickly as potential”.
The EU’s management stated it “welcomed” the Jeddah talks outcomes.
“It is a optimistic improvement that may be a step in the direction of a complete, simply and lasting peace for Ukraine. The ball is now in Russia’s court docket,” stated Ursula von der Leyen, European Fee president, and António Costa, the European Council’s president, in a joint assertion. “The EU is able to play its full half, along with its companions, within the upcoming peace negotiations.”
Further reporting by Christopher Miller in New York, Max Seddon in Berlin and Henry Foy in Brussels
