Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine has accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposal presented by the United States, following a crucial round of peace negotiations held in Saudi Arabia.
The proposed truce, which would span the entire front line of the ongoing war with Russia, is seen as a potential turning point in the conflict that has raged for over two years.
Speaking after more than eight hours of discussions, Zelensky described the proposal as a constructive step forward. “Ukraine accepts this proposal, we consider it positive, we are ready to take such a step, and the United States of America must convince Russia to do so,” he stated. The ceasefire would take effect immediately once Moscow agrees to the terms.
In a joint statement released after the meeting in Jeddah, the United States and Ukraine reaffirmed their commitment to a peaceful resolution.
The U.S. also announced it would immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine — a move confirmed by a Ukrainian official later in the day.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism, saying, “We hope that they’ll say yes, that they’ll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court.” His comments came amid reports of continued Russian military advances in the Kursk region, a key area of strategic concern for both sides.
President Donald Trump welcomed the development, pledging to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week.
“Hopefully President Putin will agree to that also and we can get this show on the road,” Trump said at the White House.
He also indicated plans to meet with Russian officials soon, expressing hope that a ceasefire could be in place “over the next few days.”
Zelensky outlined Ukraine’s key expectations under the ceasefire, including a complete halt to hostilities in the air and at sea, the release of Ukrainian prisoners, and the return of Ukrainian children currently in Russia — all intended to build trust in the process.
Additionally, both sides reportedly agreed to expedite a rare minerals deal aimed at boosting Ukraine’s economic resilience and supporting long-term security objectives.
The Ukrainian delegation at the talks was led by senior officials, although President Zelensky did not attend personally. U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz also participated in the discussions, following his recent involvement in earlier diplomatic engagements with Russia.
The joint statement concluded with a reaffirmation that “Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace,” emphasizing that the ceasefire could be extended beyond 30 days with mutual agreement