Ukraine has mentioned it is able to settle for a US proposal for a right away 30-day ceasefire in its warfare with Russia, prompting Washington to comply with resume army 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 officials in Saudi Arabia.
Washington mentioned it might instantly restore deliveries of weapons and ammunition and finish its suspension of intelligence-sharing, which Kyiv feared would severely hamper its skill to detect and hit targets past the battlefield.
US President Donald Trump mentioned 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 advised reporters exterior the White Home.
Maria Zakharova, Russia’s overseas ministry spokesperson, mentioned Moscow did “not exclude contacts with US representatives within the subsequent few days”, in response to state newswire Tass.
The ceasefire, which might be prolonged with the settlement of each events, would transcend the partial truce steered by Ukrainian 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 army actions within the Black Sea.
Tuesday’s ceasefire plan comes hours after Russian officers reported the most important drone assault on Moscow by Ukraine since its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with greater than 90 drones concentrating on the capital and 343 downed in whole throughout the nation.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who led the US crew, mentioned: “Earlier than you’ll be able to negotiate, it’s important to cease capturing at one another.”
On Telegram, Zelenskyy mentioned the US had proposed a “full ceasefire for 30 days, not solely relating to missiles, drones and bombs, not solely within the Black Sea, but in addition alongside your complete entrance line”.
“Ukraine accepts this proposal, we think about it constructive, we’re able to take such a step,” the Ukrainian president 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, mentioned the 2 sides had mentioned “substantive particulars” on how the warfare 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 mentioned Trump would “instantly” raise the US pause on support and safety help. Waltz added that he deliberate to talk along with his Russian counterpart “within the coming days”.
Zelenskyy had lengthy pushed again towards a cessation of hostilities with out preparations for monitoring and enforcement and safety ensures to discourage an extra Russian assault, relating to 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 army support 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 mentioned such a partial truce could be simpler to watch and implement.
A senior Ukrainian official advised the Monetary Occasions from Jeddah that Kyiv was “OK with the ceasefire”, which now put the ball in Moscow’s court docket.
“The query is Russia — what are they prepared for?” they added.
Rubio mentioned the US hopes “Russia will say sure”, in order that “talks can start about easy methods to finish this warfare completely in a approach that’s acceptable and enduring for either side”.
The Ukrainian official mentioned 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 mentioned.
Requested if Zelenskyy could be invited again to the White Home, Trump added: “Certain, completely.”
One other Ukrainian official concerned in negotiations over the minerals deal mentioned that 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 mentioned that additional negotiations would happen when drawing up the construction of the funding fund beneath the primary settlement.
The EU’s management mentioned it “welcomed” the Jeddah talks outcomes.
“This can be a constructive 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,” mentioned 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
