The Blubber

Ukraine Agrees to U.S.-Backed 30-Day Ceasefire Proposal, Pending Russian Approval

Kyiv has agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire with Russia following talks in Saudi Arabia, with Washington pledging to immediately restore intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine.

Ceasefire Agreement Reached in Jeddah Talks

In a joint statement released by the U.S. State Department, both nations confirmed Ukraine’s willingness to accept a temporary ceasefire, provided Russia also agrees:

“Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement and is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation.”

The statement also emphasized that Russian reciprocity is essential for peace, and that the U.S. will communicate this to Moscow.

U.S. to Resume Military Support for Ukraine

The breakthrough came after over eight hours of negotiations between Ukrainian officials and a U.S. delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jeddah.

The U.S. confirmed it would immediately lift the freeze on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine—support that had been paused after a tense Feb. 28 meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump.

The suspension of aid had left Kyiv at a disadvantage and raised concerns among European allies, who scrambled to fill the gap.

Russia’s Response Uncertain

Whether Moscow will accept the ceasefire remains unclear. Steve Witkoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, is set to visit Russia in the coming days. Witkoff previously met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for over three hours in February.

Speaking after the talks, Rubio placed the decision in Russia’s hands:

“We’ll take this offer now to the Russians. And we hope they’ll say yes to peace.”

Talks on Ukraine’s Long-Term Security and Economy

The joint statement also confirmed that both sides will immediately name negotiating teams to work toward an enduring peace agreement ensuring Ukraine’s long-term security.

Additionally, Trump and Zelenskyy intend to finalize an agreement on Ukraine’s critical mineral resources, a move aimed at boosting Ukraine’s economy and securing its future prosperity.

The U.S. has been pressuring Kyiv to grant Washington access to its mineral reserves, and Zelenskyy signaled his willingness to sign a deal ahead of the talks.

Ukraine Signals Readiness for Peace

While Zelenskyy did not participate directly in the Jeddah negotiations, his chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, led the Ukrainian delegation.

“Ukrainians want peace, and we are ready to move forward,” Yermak said.

On the issue of security guarantees, he stressed their importance in preventing future aggression but emphasized that starting the peace process is the immediate priority.