New Delhi: Ukraine Tuesday agreed to support a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, a proposal made by the US government, after a meeting between senior officials from Kyiv and Washington, D.C. in the Saudi Arabian city of Jeddah. Following Kyiv’s assent to the US proposal, Washington has lifted its suspension on the supply of arms to Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian delegation reiterated the Ukrainian people’s strong gratitude to President Trump, the US Congress, and the people of the United States for making possible meaningful progress toward peace,” said the Ukraine-US joint statement after the hours-long meeting.
The joint statement added: “Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation.”
🇺🇦🇺🇸 JOINT STATEMENT ON THE RESULTS OF THE MEETING OF THE DELEGATIONS OF UKRAINE AND THE UNITED STATES IN JEDDAH:
Today in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia – under the gracious hospitality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman – the United States and Ukraine took important steps toward… pic.twitter.com/ETxEeEOWQ0
— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) March 11, 2025
The discussions in Jeddah, which was led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Michael Waltz, the American National Security Advisor (NSA) for the American side; and Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to the President of Ukraine and Andrii Sybiha, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister.
The meeting between the two delegations follow the disastrous Oval Office confrontation between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and American President Donald J. Trump at the end of last month.
The disastrous meeting at the Oval Office saw Vance chastising Zelenskyy for not being grateful enough to Trump, and for refusing to thank the American President for his efforts to aid Ukraine. Since then, Zelenskyy has posted on social media specifically thanking Trump, and that line finds mention in the joint statement announced by the two countries.
Days after the Oval Office meeting, the US suspended military aid and intelligence sharing deals with Ukraine, until and unless Washington believed that Kyiv showed its interest for a peace deal with Russia. The suspension has impacted the transfer of roughly $1 billion in arms and ammunition meant for Ukraine.
“The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine,” said the joint statement. Following the suspension of military aid and intelligence sharing, Russia has made a number of gains on the front lines, including in Kursk, where Russian troops have been able to seize parts of the territory, which was captured by Ukraine in an offensive last summer.
Trump’s efforts to achieve a peace deal in the now three-year long war, has seen the US administration apply pressure on Ukraine, while publicly agreeing to a number of Russian positions—a stance which has roiled his partners and allies in Europe.
The US administration has ruled out NATO membership for Ukraine—a key security guarantee demand for Kyiv—while also calling any return to the pre-2014 borders an “illusionary objective”. Washington has further voted with Russia in United Nations (UN) resolutions—that were European backed—which have condemned Moscow for its role in starting the war.
“Both delegations agreed to name their negotiating teams and immediately begin negotiations toward an enduring peace that provides for Ukraine’s long-term security. The United States committed to discussing these specific proposals with representatives from Russia,” highlighted the joint statement.
The US has opened its own negotiating channel with Russia, with Rubio leading a delegation to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last month in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. The meeting had no European representatives, or representation from Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian delegation reiterated that European partners shall be involved in the peace process,” said the joint statement, continuing to point towards the growing rift between the US and its NATO allies across the Atlantic.
Another issue, which finds mention in the joint statement is the critical minerals deal, the US has been pressuring Ukraine to sign as a means to offset or payback for the aid Washington has given to Kyiv over the last three years.
The deal, which has been a central plank of Trump’s approach to Kyiv, was expected to be signed during Zelenskyy’s visit to Washington D.C. The critical minerals deal was floated partly by Kyiv to incentivise continued American support for its war efforts, according to media reports.
However, following the confrontation between Zelenskyy, Trump and Vance, the signing of the deal was cancelled, with the Ukrainian President leaving the US for London.
“Lastly, both countries’ presidents agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources to expand Ukraine’s economy, offset the cost of American assistance, and guarantee Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security,” said the joint statement.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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When Ukraine was formed after USSR disintegration it was holding one third of nuclear weapons. But it transferred all these weapons to Russia in 1994 after the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was signed by Russia, USA, UK and Ukraine. As per that treaty the above countries will respect the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. But one of the signatories itself Russia attacked Ukraine. It is like a father attacking its kids.