The United States and Ukraine have reached a significant milestone by agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Russia. This development follows high-stakes negotiations held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where senior officials from both nations convened to discuss the terms of the truce. The joint statement announcing the ceasefire outlines the strategic intentions behind this decision, aiming to establish a foundation for achieving a just and lasting peace in the region.
During the talks, held in an opulent room provided by the Gulf state, the US made a commitment to "immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine." This move signals a renewed dedication to supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities amidst its conflict with Russia. As part of this agreement, Ukraine has consented to an immediate 30-day ceasefire.
An additional topic of discussion was a potential minerals deal that could grant the United States a 50% stake in revenues from the sale of Ukraine's mineral wealth. This aspect of the talks underscores a broader strategic partnership between the two nations.
US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was a key figure in the negotiations. His presence emphasized the significance of these discussions and the shared vision for peace articulated by President Trump. Waltz remarked,
“The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear: that they share President Trump’s vision for peace.”
The negotiations were part of ongoing efforts with international partners to develop a plan for sustainable peace. British and French officials played advisory roles, providing guidance to Kyiv on how best to present their position to American counterparts. These efforts were echoed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's social media update, where he highlighted the importance of the day's US-Ukraine talks.
“Dear Americans, dear Ukrainians, don’t waste this chance. The whole world is watching you in Jeddah today. Good luck!” – Donald Tusk
Russian President Vladimir Putin now faces a critical decision: whether to accept this temporary ceasefire or risk damaging relations with the White House. In an effort to prevent an externally imposed peace plan, Ukraine has sought to engage diplomatically with Trump, hoping that Russia will reciprocate by agreeing to the truce.
“Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal—we see it as a positive step and are ready to take it,” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
“Now, it is up to the United States to convince Russia to do the same. If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
As tensions remain high, Trump's upcoming conversation with Putin is anticipated with cautious optimism. Trump expressed his willingness to negotiate further with Russia, stating,
“We’re going to meet with them [the Russians] later on today and tomorrow and hopefully we’ll be able to [work] out a deal. I think the ceasefire is very important. If we can get Russia to do it, that’ll be great. If we can’t we just keep going on and people are gonna get killed, lots of people.” – Donald Trump
Russia's response remains uncertain, especially in light of recent reports from its defense ministry indicating that 337 drones were launched at Russia overnight on Monday, with 91 targeting the Moscow region.
“You always need to hope for the best but still be prepared for the worst, and we should always be ready to defend our interests,” – Dmitry Peskov
The ceasefire agreement aims to halt further escalation and pave the way for comprehensive peace talks. US officials hope this initial step will lead to more substantive discussions aimed at ending the war.
“Ukraine has agreed to it. And hopefully Russia will agree to it.” – Donald Trump
“We are ready to do everything to achieve peace,” – Andriy Yermak
British politician Keir Starmer also emphasized the importance of international cooperation in achieving lasting peace:
“This is an important moment for peace in Ukraine and we now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible … Russia must now agree to a ceasefire and an end to the fighting too.” – Keir Starmer