Ukraine endorses US proposal for immediate 30-day ceasefire in war with Russia

LAST UPDATE | 18 hrs ago

UKRAINE HAS ENDORSED a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in its war with Russia, according to a joint statement issued this evening. 

The announcement followed talks held between US and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia today. 

“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,” the joint statement said.

“The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace,” it added.

The United States has in turn agreed to lift restrictions on military aid and intelligence sharing for Ukraine, the joint statement said. 

“The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine,” it said. 

US President Donald Trump had suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a row with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington on 28 February. 

The US and Ukraine also agreed to conclude “as soon as possible” a deal on Ukrainian minerals, the statement said.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that President Donald Trump’s top priority was ending the war and that Ukraine has taken “a positive step” towards that goal.

“There is no military solution to this war,” Rubio said, adding that the ball was now in Russia’s court.

Zelenskyy has said that the US now understands Ukraine’s arguments about the war.

“Ukraine welcomes this proposal, we consider it positive, we are ready to take such a step. The United States of America has to convince Russia to do this,” Zelenskyy said in his evening address. “The American side understands our arguments.”

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US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told reporters, “We’ve gone from if the war is going to end to how the war is going to end,” saying President Trump has “moved the entire global conversation”.

EU response

Taoiseah Micheál welcomed today’s developments, saying that peace in Ukraine “is something we all desire”.

“We welcome the outcome of talks today between the US and Ukraine. A pathway to peace now exists,” the Taoiseach said.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said in a statement that “the ball is very much in Moscow’s court”.

“Today’s talks between the United States and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia are very welcome, including the decision by Ukraine to agree to a temporary ceasefire,” Harris said.

“It’s now vital that Russia too responds positively – after all they are the aggressor in this awful conflict.”

The EU’s top two officials have welcomed the agreement and the US’s decision to resume military aid to Kyiv.

“This is a positive development that can be a step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The ball is now in Russia’s court,” European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen and European Coucil chief Antonio Costa said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk hailed the progress made in the talks.

“It seems like the Americans and Ukrainians have taken an important step towards peace” with Russia after three years of war, Tusk wrote on X, “and Europe stands ready to help reach a just and lasting peace.”

With reporting from AFP

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