In a major breakthrough, Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, endorsing a US-led peace proposal during high-stakes negotiations in Jeddah on Tuesday. The move, seen as a significant diplomatic shift, has led the Trump administration to lift its freeze on military aid to Ukraine, signaling a potential turning point in the three-year-long war.
Ukrainian officials, under increasing pressure from the Trump administration, arrived at the Jeddah talks with a proposal for a partial truce focused on air and sea attacks. However, after intense discussions, Kyiv accepted a broader US proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire.
“Today we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations,” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced after nearly nine hours of talks.
I received a report from our delegation on their meeting with the American team in Saudi Arabia. The discussion lasted most of the day and was good and constructive—our teams were able to discuss many important details.
Our position remains absolutely clear: Ukraine has been… pic.twitter.com/7EZXTVA52C
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 11, 2025
Rubio added that the United States will now take the offer to Russia, urging Moscow to agree to peace. “The ball is now in their court. If they say no, we’ll know what the impediment is to peace,” he stated.
Trump Lifts Freeze on Military Aid, Signals Talks With Putin
Following Ukraine’s acceptance of the ceasefire, President Donald Trump announced that the US would immediately resume military assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, reversing a suspension imposed after a tense February 28 meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Speaking in Washington, Trump expressed optimism about an imminent peace agreement. “I hope it will be over the next few days. We have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow, and hopefully, great conversations will ensue,” he said.
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The Trump administration also confirmed plans for a renewed diplomatic push, with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz stating that upcoming discussions will focus on “substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end.”
Zelenskyy Welcomes US Mediation, Calls on Russia to Respond
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the US-led peace efforts, calling the agreement a “positive” development. “The American side understands our arguments and perceives our proposals. I want to thank President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address.
However, he emphasized that the next step must come from Moscow. “Russia must now respond clearly—do they want peace or not?” his top aide, Andriy Yermak, told reporters in Jeddah.
Ceasefire Talks Amid Rising Tensions
The ceasefire negotiations come amid a surge in hostilities. In the days leading up to the Jeddah talks, Ukraine launched a major drone strike on Moscow, killing three people. Meanwhile, Russian forces escalated attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure and regained control of border areas in Russia’s Kursk region.
Adding to the tension, the Bakhmut front has seen intensified battles, with both sides attempting to solidify their positions ahead of potential diplomatic breakthroughs.
Geopolitical Ramifications and NATO Considerations
The dramatic shift in US policy has unsettled European allies, with France and Germany increasingly advocating for an independent European defense strategy should US security commitments wane. French President Emmanuel Macron has called for “credible security guarantees” for Ukraine in any final ceasefire agreement.
Trump’s decision to push for a ceasefire, rather than Ukraine’s full NATO membership, has also altered the global conversation on the war. While the Biden administration had championed Ukraine’s NATO integration, Trump has made it clear that this is no longer an option under his leadership.
Meanwhile, Rubio is set to travel to Canada for a G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, where he plans to push for a less “antagonistic” approach toward Russia to avoid jeopardizing diplomatic progress.
While the 30-day ceasefire is a significant development, the ultimate outcome depends on Russia’s response. If Moscow agrees, the world could see the first meaningful pause in hostilities since the war began in February 2022. However, if Russia rejects the offer, the conflict may escalate further, with Ukraine once again depending on Western military aid for survival.
As the international community watches closely, the coming days will determine whether this latest diplomatic effort leads to lasting peace or remains just another fleeting attempt in the ongoing conflict.
