Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is ready to agree to a ceasefire with Russia after successful talks with the US today.
The Ukrainian president said on Telegram that “we are ready to take this step” and said the US “must convince Russia to do this”.
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Following a meeting with Kyiv officials in Saudi Arabia, US secretary of state Marco Rubio told reporters “the ball is now in Russia’s court” and the next step is for Moscow to agree to terms.
US President Donald Trump said “we want to get the Ukraine war over with” and hopes to have a total ceasefire in the coming days.
But what has been agreed by the US and Ukraine? Here’s what we know so far…
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Straight after the nine-hour talks in Jeddah, the US State Department said Washington would immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine.
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Mr Zelenskyy confirmed in his post that an “important element of today’s conversation is America’s readiness to restore defensive assistance to Ukraine, as well as intelligence support”.
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As part of their plan, the US said both sides should agree to an immediate 30-day ceasefire which could then be mutually extended.
A joint statement from the US and Ukraine added that Washington “will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace”.
The Ukrainian president added that the proposal was “not only concerning rockets, drones, and bombs, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line” – although the official statement does not mention this.
The statement also makes no mention of territory – despite Ukraine previously calling for Russia to return occupied lands, and the US saying Kyiv might have to concede territory – or the foreign deployment of soldiers in Ukraine for peacekeeping.
The joint statement does say officials discussed aid efforts as part of the peace process, including “the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children”.
Ukraine also reiterated that European partners would be involved in the peace process, and both countries agreed a deal on Kyiv’s minerals and rare earths should “conclude as soon as possible”.
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What has Ukraine said?
Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine agrees to the terms, adding that “the American side understands our arguments” and “accepts our proposals”.
He then said he wanted “to thank President Trump for the constructiveness of the conversation between our teams,” before adding: “Ukraine is ready for peace.
“Russia must show whether it is ready to stop the war or continue it. The time has come for the full truth.”
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha – who was in Jeddah for the talks – called the meeting a step forward “both on the path to peace and in developing the strategic Ukraine-US partnership” on social media.
And speaking to Sky News’ Mark Austin, Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko added that “we will have to wait and see what comes of it” but that “clearly it’s good news”.
“On first glance it’s amazing,” she said. “If we can get the Russians to agree to a ceasefire for 30 days, then our soldiers on the frontline will have a break…”
However, she said: “In previous years [Russia has] shown an absolute inability to understand what a ceasefire is and to stick to the basic rules of a ceasefire – which means not firing any weapons.”
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What has the US said?
Mr Rubio said the next step is “going to take the offer” to Russia, adding: “We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table, Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no.
“I hope they’re going to say yes, and if they do then I think we made great progress.”
Mr Trump echoed this outside the White House, saying Ukraine has agreed to the “total ceasefire” and that “hopefully Russia will agree to it”.
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He added that he will speak to Vladimir Putin in the coming days, warning the Russian president that “it takes two to tango”.
How has Russia reacted?
So far, there’s been no official reaction to the proposal other than to acknowledge Mr Trump’s comments about talks within the next week.
But ahead of the breakthrough talks in Jeddah, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Mr Zelenskyy does not want peace.
According to state news agency TASS, Mr Lavrov added: “Mr Zelenskyy publicly declares that he does not want any ceasefire unless the Americans provide him with assurances that they will launch a nuclear strike on Russia if necessary.
“He frames the issue in much the same manner. For now, [a peace talk] is not serious.”
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Mr Zelenskyy has not called for the US to strike Russia with nuclear weapons, but did say last month that Ukraine should be given them if talks on joining NATO are protracted for years.
