Ukraine Agrees to U.S. Proposed Ceasefire, Awaiting Russian Response

New Delhi, March 12: Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Tuesday. This ceasefire would cover the entire front line of fighting with Russia. “Ukraine accepts this proposal… and the United States must convince Russia to do so,” Zelensky said as reported by CNN. He explained the ceasefire would start as soon as Moscow agrees.

Following talks in Saudi Arabia, the United States and Ukraine released a statement saying that the U.S. would resume security support for Ukraine and restart intelligence sharing. A Ukrainian official confirmed this had already begun. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the focus was now on Russia. “The ball is now in their court,” he stated. President Donald Trump also welcomed the news and said he planned to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon about the ceasefire.
According to CNN, Tuesday’s talks followed tensions between Trump and Zelensky just weeks earlier. The timing is crucial, as Russian forces have been advancing in the Kursk region, threatening Kyiv’s strategic position.

The U.S.-Ukraine statement highlighted that Ukraine had agreed to the ceasefire “on the condition that Russia also agrees and follows through.” Ukraine has also asked for peace measures such as a halt to air and sea attacks, the release of Ukrainian prisoners, and the return of Ukrainian children from Russia. In addition to the ceasefire, both nations agreed to finalize minerals deal to help boost Ukraine’s economy and improve long-term security.

European leaders welcomed the ceasefire plan. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised the agreement as a “remarkable breakthrough,” while Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called it “an important step toward a just and lasting peace.” The European Union described the deal as a “positive development.”

The talks in Jeddah happened hours after Russia reported a “massive” drone attack by Ukraine. Russia claimed to have downed 337 drones, with 91 targeting the Moscow region, resulting in casualties and damage. A spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry told CNN that they do not rule out contact with U.S. representatives “in the next few days.” Russia currently controls around 20 percent of Ukrainian territory, up from 7percent. Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his goal to seize all of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions.