In a significant diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump has welcomed Ukraine's decision to agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, urging Moscow to respond positively. Trump's statement came after Kyiv confirmed its readiness to halt hostilities following high-level negotiations in Saudi Arabia's Jeddah on Tuesday.
Ukraine Agrees to Ceasefire After Jeddah Talks
The ceasefire development emerged after intensive discussions between Ukrainian representatives and Trump's advisers. The United States played a crucial role in convincing Kyiv to agree to the truce, which aims to de-escalate the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that has claimed tens of thousands of lives over three years. "Ukraine ceasefire, just agreed to it a little while ago. Now we have to go to Russia, and hopefully, President (Vladimir) Putin will also agree to it. People are being killed in the cities as things explode throughout the cities. We want to get that war over with," Trump told reporters on Tuesday. Trump emphasized the importance of achieving peace in the region, expressing concern over the continued loss of soldiers and civilians on both sides. He stated that the ceasefire was a vital step toward ending the violence and initiating formal peace talks. "That's a total ceasefire. Ukraine has agreed to it and hopefully Russia will agree. The ceasefire is very important. If we can get Russia to do it, that'll be great. If we can't, we just keep going on and people are going to get killed, lots of people," Trump added.
Marco Rubio: Ceasefire Brings Hope for Peace
Following the Jeddah talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Ukraine's commitment to the ceasefire deal and their willingness to engage in immediate peace negotiations. "Today we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a ceasefire and into immediate negotiations," Rubio said, following nearly nine hours of intensive talks in Jeddah. Rubio took to social media platform X to express his optimism, stating that Ukraine's acceptance of the ceasefire marked "a step closer to durable peace." He credited Trump's leadership and praised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for facilitating the talks.
"Today was a good day for peace. Thanks to POTUS's leadership and under the gracious hospitality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, we are one step closer to restoring durable peace for Ukraine. The ball is now in Russia's court," Rubio posted. With Ukraine's positive response, the United States announced it would resume intelligence sharing with Kyiv and reinstate security assistance to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities. "The President wanted this war to end yesterday. So, our hope is that the Russians will answer 'yes' as quickly as possible, so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations," Rubio added.
Trump Plans Talks with Putin and Zelenskyy
Trump further announced his intention to engage directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week to encourage Moscow to accept the ceasefire deal. He also confirmed that he would invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy back to the White House for additional peace talks. The ceasefire agreement follows a tense period of diplomatic friction between Ukraine and the United States. Last month, tensions escalated after a heated exchange between Zelenskyy and Trump at the Oval Office, where disagreements over war strategies intensified.
"If they say no, then we'll, unfortunately, know what the impediment is to peace here," Rubio warned, signaling concerns that Russia’s refusal could prolong the devastating conflict. As diplomatic efforts continue, all eyes are now on Moscow’s response. The success of the proposed ceasefire hinges on Russia’s willingness to halt its military actions and engage in meaningful peace discussions. The Russia-Ukraine war, which began with Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has resulted in massive destruction, loss of life, and displacement. With the potential ceasefire now in place, there is renewed hope for peace and stability in the war-torn region.
