The United States and Ukraine have reached an agreement to propose a 30-day ceasefire to Russia, aiming to halt the ongoing conflict that has gripped the region since 2022. The proposal, which extends beyond Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's initial call for a partial truce, now hinges on the United States' ability to persuade Russia to accept the terms. High-level discussions took place in Jeddah, where US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the American delegation.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 resulted in the occupation of approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. Amidst increasing international pressure, the US has offered security guarantees to Ukraine in exchange for access to its rare earth mineral reserves. The US-Ukraine joint statement emphasized the need for European involvement in any long-term peace process.
"Today we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations," said Marco Rubio.
The negotiations come on the heels of heightened tensions, with Ukraine's air force reporting the downing of 79 out of 126 drones launched by Russia, alongside an Iskander-M ballistic missile. Simultaneously, the Russian defense ministry claimed to have intercepted 337 drones over its territory, 91 of which were shot down near Moscow.
During the talks, the US expressed its intent to finalize a critical minerals deal with Ukraine "as soon as possible," reinstating suspended intelligence sharing and security assistance. This move followed overnight drone attacks that claimed at least three lives near Moscow, underscoring the urgency for a ceasefire.
Zelensky stated that it is now the US's responsibility to convince Russia to accept the proposal, while former US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about upcoming discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"We have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow, and some great conversations hopefully will ensue," Trump remarked.
Despite these developments, the Kremlin has yet to publicly respond to the proposal. Meanwhile, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed what she described as a "positive development" on Tuesday.
"Both delegations agreed to name their negotiating teams and immediately begin negotiations toward an enduring peace that provides for Ukraine's long-term security," according to the US-Ukraine statement.
The US has been pressuring Zelensky to agree to a ceasefire without preconditioned security guarantees, though such stipulations remain a point of contention. In response to the proposal, Marco Rubio warned of the ongoing human toll.
"Today people will die in this war, they died yesterday and – sadly – unless there's a ceasefire, they will die tomorrow," said Rubio.
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