Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, a proposal brokered by the United States, following high-stakes negotiations in Saudi Arabia. The ball is now in Russia’s court, according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who announced the development late Tuesday after talks in Jeddah.
The breakthrough comes after the first official US-Ukraine meeting since the extraordinary Oval Office clash between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump on February 28. The talks signal a shift in diplomatic efforts, with Washington now actively pushing for a ceasefire to de-escalate the conflict that has raged since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
In a joint statement, Ukraine and the US declared that they would resume intelligence sharing and security assistance, which had been suspended following recent tensions. Both nations also agreed to form negotiating teams and immediately begin talks aimed at a long-term peace settlement.
Rubio, addressing a press conference in Jeddah, emphasized Ukraine’s willingness to engage in dialogue.
“Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking,”* he said. *”If Russia rejects this offer, then we’ll unfortunately know where the real obstacle to peace lies.”
The proposed ceasefire extends beyond Zelensky’s previous suggestion of a partial truce covering air and naval operations.
Zelensky expressed cautious optimism, thanking Trump for his “constructiveness” in the Jeddah discussions. However, he underscored that the decision ultimately rests with Moscow.
“Russia must now show whether it wants to stop the war or continue the war. It is time for the full truth,” he said in a video statement.
The Kremlin has yet to officially respond to the ceasefire proposal. However, influential Russian lawmaker Kostantin Kosachev indicated that any agreement would be “on our terms, not American.”
Kosachev, who chairs the Federation Council’s international affairs committee, suggested that decisive outcomes were still being determined “on the battlefield.”
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that talks with US representatives remained a possibility in the coming days, according to state-run media outlet Tass.
Trump, speaking from the White House, said he plans to discuss the proposal with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It takes two to tango,” Trump remarked. “We have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow, and hopefully, some great conversations will take place.”
Despite diplomatic efforts, the war raged on Tuesday. Russia accused Ukraine of launching its largest drone attack on Moscow since the invasion began, killing at least three people in the capital region and injuring 18 others. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that it intercepted 337 drones, with 91 shot down near Moscow.
Simultaneously, Ukraine endured heavy drone and missile attacks from Russia. Ukraine’s air force claimed to have intercepted 79 of 126 drones launched, along with an Iskander-M ballistic missile targeting Kyiv and other regions.
Alongside the ceasefire talks, Ukraine and the US agreed to finalize a critical minerals deal, which had been stalled by previous diplomatic tensions. Ukraine is offering access to its rare earth mineral reserves in exchange for stronger US security guarantees.
The new US-led approach, which has notably sidelined European allies in negotiations, has triggered emergency meetings among EU leaders. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cautiously welcomed the “positive development.”
Trump, who has pressured Zelensky to accept a ceasefire while withholding immediate security guarantees, reinforced his stance by hinting at additional sanctions on Moscow.
“Russia is absolutely pounding Ukraine on the battlefield right now,” Trump said, emphasising the need for a deal.
With the US now aggressively pursuing a ceasefire, all eyes turn to Moscow. If Putin rejects the proposal, Washington is expected to ramp up diplomatic and economic pressure. For now, Ukraine stands ready to negotiate—if Russia is willing to reciprocate.
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