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ConflictsUkraine

US, Ukraine agree on 30-day ceasefire proposal

John Silk with AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa
March 12, 2025

After intense talks in Saudi Arabia, US and Ukraine representatives have reached several agreements. The US said it will resume military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center right, greets well-wishers upon arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (center right) was in talks with Ukrainian officials for eight hours straightImage: Saul Loeb/AP Photo/picture alliance

Ukraine backed a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and agreed to "immediate" negotiations with Russia after talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, more than three years since Moscow invaded its neighbor.

After more than eight hours of negotiations with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would now take the offer to Russia.

In addition, Washington also agreed to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

Ukraine backs US proposal for 30-day ceasefire

05:23

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Rubio says 'ball is now in Russia's court'

"Our hope is that the Russians will answer 'yes' as quickly as possible, so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations," Rubio told reporters.

With Trump putting fierce pressure on Kyiv and reaching out to Moscow, Ukrainian officials came to the talks keen to reconcile with Washington, proposing a partial truce on air and sea attacks.

Trump's advisors pressed for more, and said Ukraine agreed to their proposal for a broader month-long ceasefire.

"Today we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations," Rubio told reporters after the talks in Jeddah.

"We'll take this offer now to the Russians and we hope they'll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court."

"If they say no then we'll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here," Rubio said of Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Trump's administration has said it aims to put an end to the war in Ukraine, which has raging for a little over three yearsImage: picture alliance

US to resume aid, intelligence sharing

Rubio said the United States would immediately resume military aid and intelligence sharing it had halted after a fractious meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last month.

Tuesday's developments led Trump to saying he was ready to welcome Zelenskyy back to the White House and may speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.

Asked about the prospects of a comprehensive ceasefire in Ukraine, Trump said: "Well, I hope it will be over the next few days, I'd like to see."

"I know we have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow and some great conversations hopefully will ensue."

Trump engaged in a public spat with the Ukrainian president in the Oval Office late last monthImage: Brian Snyder/REUTERS

Ukraine, US to sign minerals deal

In a joint statement, Ukraine and the US said they would conclude "as soon as possible" a deal securing Washington access to Ukraine's mineral wealth.

Zelenskyy was to sign the deal at the White House before the dramatic showdown on February 28, in which Trump and Vice President JD Vance confronted the Ukrainian president, accusing him of lacking gratitude.

On Tuesday, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the "positive" ceasefire proposal made in Jeddah and said the US must now put pressure on Russia to accept.

"The American side understands our arguments, perceives our proposals, and I want to thank President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams," Zelenskyy said in his evening address.

Macron cautiously welcomes progress

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the progress made in talks.

"The ball is now clearly in Russia's court," Macron posted on X, echoing comments from Rubio.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also used that expression.

Macron noted that France and its partners don't just want any peace arrangement but one that is "supported by robust security guarantees for Ukraine."

Meanwhile, Russia's Foreign Ministry seemingly downplayed the importance of the Jeddah meeting.

"The shaping of the position of the Russian Federation does not take place abroad due to some agreements or efforts of some parties. The formation of the position of the Russian Federation takes place inside the Russian Federation," ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova was cited by Russian state news agency TASS as saying.

Edited by: Saim Dušan Inayatullah

John Silk Editor and writer for English news, as well as the Culture and Asia Desks.@JSilk
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