In Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, a significant diplomatic development occurred as the United States government, under the Trump administration, announced the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. This decision follows Ukraine’s indication of its willingness to consider a 30-day ceasefire in its ongoing conflict with Russia, contingent upon Moscow’s agreement. This announcement came after intensive discussions between American and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia.
This policy reversal by the U.S. represented a stark departure from its stance just a week prior when military aid had been halted, seemingly as a maneuver to compel Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toward peace negotiations with Russia. The initial suspension of aid had followed a contentious meeting between President Donald Trump and Zelenskyy at the White House.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who spearheaded the U.S. delegation in Jeddah, stated that Washington plans to convey the ceasefire proposal to Russia, which has thus far resisted any settlement short of a complete cessation of hostilities, without accommodating any compromises. “We aim to present this offer clearly,” Rubio mentioned to journalists. “Ukraine is prepared to cease hostilities and engage in dialogue. Now, it is up to Russia to accept or reject this proposition.” Rubio added that a rejection would illuminate the primary barrier to achieving peace.
Mike Waltz, Trump’s national security adviser, emphasized that the Ukrainian envoy strongly aligned with President Trump’s aspirations for peace. The meetings, which spanned nearly eight hours, seemed to ease tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy, stemming from their previous turbulent interactions.
According to Waltz, the delegates delved into detailed discussions about permanently concluding the war, touching upon long-term security guarantees. Moreover, he confirmed that Trump agreed to promptly restart the flow of significant U.S. military support and intelligence sharing.
President Trump expressed optimism that a comprehensive agreement might be reached shortly. He noted, “I’ve found Russia surprisingly more manageable than Ukraine thus far, contrary to expectations. But with Ukraine’s commitment to a ceasefire, that’s promising.” However, the Kremlin has yet to issue any response to these developments. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova indicated that talks with U.S. representatives could happen within the week. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, is reportedly expected to visit Moscow to potentially meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, although final arrangements remain subject to change.
The negotiations in Saudi Arabia followed shortly after Russia launched a massive drone offensive against Ukraine, marking one of the largest attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukrainian officials did not comment on this onslaught, which included Russia firing numerous drones and a ballistic missile at Ukrainian territories.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reiterated in a speech post-negotiation the nation’s enduring pursuit of a lasting peace. He stressed that Ukraine has been advocating for peace since the conflict’s inception and aims to ensure future security that discourages further hostilities. Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s advisor and lead negotiator, viewed the talks positively, highlighting shared goals with the United States towards a “just peace.”
In Kyiv, civilians like psychologist Lena Herasymenko acknowledge that concessions might be essential in ending the war, provided these are deemed reasonable. Similarly, Oleksandr, a Ukrainian soldier, cautioned about the risks a ceasefire might pose, fearing that Russia could exploit the pause to bolster their military strength.
Within Russia, however, the suggestion of a ceasefire was met with skepticism by certain hawkish political figures and military analysts, who perceived it as advantageous to Ukraine and contrary to Russia’s strategic interests. Critics like Alexander Dugin opposed the ceasefire, while others, like Viktor Sobolev, warned that a temporary truce could grant Ukraine time to rearm. Sergei Markov suggested that halting Western military supplies to Ukraine could be a potential ceasefire condition.
The Russian stance remains firm with no outward sign of concessions. President Putin has maintained that Russia desires a complete settlement, not merely a temporary halt to combat, with conditions such as Ukraine renouncing its NATO ambitions and recognizing Russian-occupied territories as part of Russia. Despite the ongoing conflict and Russia controlling significant portions of Ukrainian land, Ukraine remains resolute in bolstering its military capacities, notably with high-tech advancements such as drones capable of reaching within Russian borders.