Ukraine Agrees For 30-Day Ceasefire With Russia Proposed By US After Key Talks in Saudi Arabia- wna24
US and Ukrainian officials hold key talks on Ukraine war in Saudia Arabia | Image:
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Jeddah: Ukraine has expressed its willingness to accept US-proposed 30-day ceasefire with Russia, in a bid to end the three-year-old war. The development has come after US and Ukrainian officials held key delegation level talks in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah to discuss negotiations for a peace deal.
Ukraine accepting a 30-day ceasefire with Russia came hours after hard pressed talks in Jeddah with US delegation led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Ukrainian and US officials issued a joint statement after their talks in Jeddah saying, “Today in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia — under the gracious hospitality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — the United States and Ukraine took important steps toward restoring durable peace for Ukraine.”
During the talks, representatives of both the nations lauded the effort put by Ukrainians to defend their nation in the war but also realised that now it was time to make efforts for a lasting peace.
The Ukrainian officials thanked President Trump, US Congress and the United States for standing by Kyiv and navigating towards programs for a meaningful peace.
During the talks, Ukrainians expressed readiness to accept the US proposal for an immediate and 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 Russia Federation, the joint statement mentioned.
The statement also reads that the United States will communicate to Russia to reciprocate on the peace efforts undertaken in Saudi Arabia.
US to immediately lift pause on security assistance, intelligence sharing to Ukraine
Another breakthrough that emerged during US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia is that the United States will immediately lift ban on its security assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv. The ban was imposed by President Donald Trump after showdown with Zelenskyy at the White House almost two weeks ago.
Other crucial issues that were discussed during the 8-hour unprecedented talks included humanitarian assistance, exchange of prisoners of war, release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children.
US-Ukraine to soon release details of negotiation teams
It was also decided during the talks in Jeddah that both US and Ukraine will announces names of officials who will be part of the their negotiation teams to kickstart peace talks immediately and assure Kyiv a long-term security.
Ukraine wants European partners involvement in peace talks
Ukraine expressed its desire with all the stakeholders to involve its European partners in the peace efforts. After Zelenskyy-Trump White House blowup, a majority of European nations had backed Zelenskyy and stood up with Kyiv to take on Russia.
The delegation also agreed upon to conclude an agreement as soon as possible on Ukraine’s rare earth minerals with US, a deal Donald Trump was looking for when Zelenskyy visited him in White House but things didn’t go as planned after full public showdown.