Faith Nyasuguta
The Trump administration has resumed military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, and Kyiv has signaled willingness to agree to a 30-day ceasefire,if Russia also agrees. This development followed high-level talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia, officials said Tuesday.
This marks a major shift from last week when the U.S halted aid to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into negotiations with Russia. The suspension came shortly after a heated exchange between Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump at the White House over Ukraine’s ongoing war with Russia.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the U.S. delegation at the Jeddah talks, confirmed that Washington would present Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal to Russia. However, the Kremlin has insisted that only a permanent resolution, including Ukrainian concessions, would be acceptable.
“We’re putting the offer on the table: Ukraine is willing to pause the fighting and start negotiations. Now, it’s up to Russia to decide,” Rubio said. “If they refuse, then we’ll know what’s blocking peace.”
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to travel to Moscow later this week. There, he may meet Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the proposal, according to an official who spoke anonymously.
So far, Moscow has not publicly shown any willingness to compromise. Russia has stated that it would only agree to peace if Ukraine abandons its NATO ambitions and recognizes Russian control over occupied territories. Russia currently holds nearly 20% of Ukraine’s land.
The Saudi-hosted talks reflect a renewed diplomatic effort to end the three-year war. Tensions escalated after Zelenskyy’s February 28 visit to the White House, where he and Trump clashed over Ukraine’s war strategy.
Before the Jeddah meeting, Ukrainian officials told the Associated Press that their ceasefire proposal would include a halt to hostilities in the Black Sea. This could help ensure safer shipping routes, reduce missile strikes targeting civilians, and facilitate prisoner exchanges.
As talks began in Jeddah’s luxury hotel, journalists were briefly allowed to observe the delegations. The next steps now depend on Russia’s response to Ukraine’s offer.
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