Ukraine has agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire with Russia following diplomatic talks in Saudi Arabia.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the offer would be presented to Russia, emphasizing that the decision now rests with Moscow.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the proposal, calling it a positive step, and urged the U.S. to convince Russia to engage.
The discussions in Jeddah marked the first formal meeting between the U.S. and Ukraine since tensions escalated over security policies.
A joint statement from both nations confirmed the resumption of intelligence-sharing and security assistance, which had been paused.
The agreement also included naming negotiation teams to work toward a lasting peace that ensures Ukraine’s long-term security.
Rubio, speaking in Jeddah, expressed hope that Russia would accept the truce. He emphasized that Ukraine was willing to cease hostilities and enter direct negotiations, adding that if Russia refused, it would clarify who was obstructing peace.
The proposed ceasefire extends beyond previous partial truce suggestions by Zelensky, which focused on air and naval operations.
In a video message, the Ukrainian leader stressed the need for Russia to demonstrate whether it seeks peace or continued conflict.
The Kremlin has yet to respond officially but had stated earlier that it would issue a statement following Washington’s briefing on the discussions.
Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, currently controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory.
At the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept the proposal, acknowledging that diplomacy requires mutual effort. He also mentioned the possibility of hosting Zelensky in Washington for further talks.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Foreign Ministry did not rule out potential discussions with U.S. representatives in the coming days. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed that Moscow was evaluating the situation.
The talks occurred amid heightened tensions following overnight drone attacks in Moscow, which Russia claimed signaled Ukraine’s unwillingness to seek a diplomatic resolution.
