On the 11th (local time), after high-level talks between the United States and Ukraine in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and White House National Security Advisor Mike Waltz (right) held a press conference. Jeddah/AFP Yonhap News.
The U.S. and Ukraine reached an agreement on the 11th (local time) for a 30-day ceasefire in the war, drawing attention to Russia’s response. The U.S. has promised to immediately resume military and intelligence support to Ukraine, which had been temporarily suspended, and Europe is also supporting the ceasefire, putting pressure on Russia’s decision.
Following the high-level meeting between the U.S. and Ukraine held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said, “Ukraine accepts the proposal and views it positively, and is ready to take action” regarding the 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. He added, “The U.S. needs to persuade Russia to do the same.”
President Zelensky also mentioned that the U.S.’s ceasefire proposal included stopping missile, drone, and bomb attacks not only in the Black Sea but across all fronts. U.S. President Donald Trump also stated at the White House that Ukraine’s agreement to the ceasefire is a fact, and added, “Hopefully, Russia will agree as well,” citing advice that “it takes two to tango” when speaking about talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Political media outlet Politico reported that U.S.-Russia dialogue regarding the ceasefire agreement is expected to occur within this week.
In the joint statement issued after the talks, both countries also emphasized Russia’s role. The statement said, “The U.S. will convey that reciprocal actions by Russia are the key to achieving peace,” and added, “The ceasefire can be extended by mutual consent, dependent on Russia’s acceptance and subsequent implementation.”
In Europe, there was an immediate welcoming stance regarding the results of the meeting. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and António Costa, President of the Council of European Union, jointly wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “We welcome the proposal for a ceasefire agreement, including the resumption of U.S. intelligence sharing and security support,” and stated, “The European Union is ready to play a full role with partners in upcoming peace negotiations.” They publicly called on Russia for a response, adding, “Now the ball is in Russia’s court.”
Russia’s position on the ceasefire proposal remains unclear. However, after the joint statement by the U.S. and Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated, “We do not rule out the possibility of contact with U.S. representatives in the coming days,” according to Russia’s state TASS news agency. Russia has not opposed the ceasefire itself but has asserted that Ukraine should first hold an election and then enter formal negotiations. At the beginning of last month, Keith Kellogg, the U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine and Russia, also mentioned to Reuters that if a ceasefire with Russia is reached, Ukraine should hold an election by the end of the year. This effectively amounted to U.S. and Russia jointly pressuring for a change in the Ukrainian administration, which sparked controversy.
The UK’s Guardian reported that Ukraine might seek strong security guarantees during the ceasefire period, including the deployment of European peacekeeping forces on the ground. However, it remains uncertain if foreign troops will be deployed during the ceasefire period.
Berlin/Jang Yeji, Correspondent.