JEDDAH — In a significant development, Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in its ongoing conflict with Russia. This decision was reached during high-level talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia. The United States and Ukraine announced this decision together in an official statement.
What Happens Next?
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that now it is up to Russia to decide whether to accept this peace proposal. He emphasized that the “ball is in Moscow’s court,” meaning Russia now has the responsibility to respond.
In addition to the ceasefire agreement, the United States has decided to resume sharing intelligence with Ukraine. This means the U.S. will start providing Ukraine with important information about military activities that can help the country defend itself.
President Zelenskiy’s Response
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was also in Saudi Arabia during these discussions, although he did not take part in the negotiations himself. However, he later spoke about the agreement and called it a “positive proposal.” He explained that this ceasefire would not only stop the fighting on land but also pause attacks from the air and sea, making it a broad and important step toward peace.
Details of the Agreement
The talks between Ukraine and the United States lasted for more than eight hours. By the end, both sides agreed that Ukraine was willing to accept an immediate, temporary ceasefire lasting 30 days. This ceasefire could be extended in the future if both Ukraine and Russia agree to continue it. However, for it to take effect, Russia must also agree and follow the rules of the ceasefire.
“The United States will inform Russia that its cooperation is essential for achieving peace,” the official statement said.
In addition to agreeing on a ceasefire, the U.S. announced that it would lift restrictions on intelligence sharing. This means that America will once again provide Ukraine with security information to help in its defense strategies.
A Deal on Ukraine’s Natural Resources
Another important topic discussed in the meeting was Ukraine’s critical mineral resources. Ukraine and the United States have been working on a deal regarding these valuable minerals for weeks. However, this deal faced delays after a difficult meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and President Zelenskiy last week.
After the talks in Saudi Arabia, President Zelenskiy confirmed that Ukraine and the U.S. will continue working on finalizing this minerals agreement as soon as possible.
Security Guarantees for Ukraine
A top aide to President Zelenskiy also mentioned that Ukraine discussed possible security guarantees with the United States. However, specific details about these guarantees were not shared.
This meeting marks an important step in the efforts to bring peace to Ukraine while also strengthening the relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine in both security and economic matters. Now, the world waits for Russia’s response to the ceasefire proposal.
