The United States will immediately lift its suspension of intelligence data exchanges and resume providing military assistance to Ukraine, according to a joint statement from the US and Ukraine following a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, the 11th of March.
Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to implement a temporary 30-day ceasefire, which could be extended by mutual agreement, and which could be agreed upon and implemented by the Russian Federation, the statement said.
“The United States will notify Russia that its involvement is key to achieving peace,” the statement added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that, regarding the ceasefire, “the ball is now in Russia’s court.”
Ukraine’s proposed ceasefire applies to the entire front line, not just air and maritime space, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced after discussions between US and Ukrainian officials.
“Today, the proposal from the American side was to immediately take the first step and try to achieve a complete ceasefire for 30 days, not just regarding missiles, drones, and bombs, not only in the Black Sea, but across the entire front line,” Zelenskyy said.
“Ukraine accepts this proposal, we consider it positive, we are ready to take this step, and the United States must convince Russia to do so,” Zelenskyy added, stating that the ceasefire will begin once Moscow agrees.
Rubio explained that the US will present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin.
“We will tell them, ‘This is the offer. Ukraine is ready to stop fighting and start negotiations. Now, it’s up to them to say ‘yes’ or ‘no,’” Rubio said. “If they say ‘no,’ then unfortunately we will know what the obstacle to peace is here.”
National Security Advisor Mike Waltz added, “The Ukrainian delegation today made it very clear that they agree with President Trump’s vision for peace.”
Waltz stated that participants in the talks delved into crucial details about how this war will eventually end, including long-term security guarantees.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, may travel to Moscow later this week to meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly. This person cautioned that the schedule could change.
The US and Ukraine also agreed to finalize an agreement regarding Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources as soon as possible, the statement said.
The two sides met for over eight hours on Tuesday in the Saudi Arabian port city.
This meeting was the highest-level conversation since Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s unsuccessful visit to the White House last month.
It was expected that Kyiv would push for an agreement with Russia on a ceasefire in the Black Sea, in the air, and on the release of prisoners.
Russia has stated that it would be willing to halt military operations if Ukraine abandons its NATO accession plans and hands over all territories it has seized, as well as territories that Moscow claims to have annexed, even if they are not under its control.