Ukraine’s president says he is willing to accept a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire – but says the US ‘must convince’ Russia to agree to it as well.
Volodymyr Zelensky made the statement after a meeting between senior US and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, earlier today.
He said Ukraine has been seeking peace ‘from the very first second of this war’ and hopes to achieve it in a reliable way ‘so that war does not return’.
During the meeting with US officials, Ukraine proposed three key points – silence in the skies, silence at sea, and the release of prisoners of war and detainees.
Mr Zelensky added: ‘Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal – we see it as a positive step and are ready to take it.
‘Ukraine is ready for peace. Russia must show its readiness to end the war or continue the war. It is time for the full truth.
‘Now, it is up to the United States to convince Russia to do the same. If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately.’
Three ‘key points’ proposed by Ukrainian officials during peace talks with US
- Silence in the skies – stopping missile strikes, bombs, and long-range drone attacks
- Silence at sea
- Real confidence-building measures in this whole situation, in which diplomacy is ongoing, which primarily means the release of prisoners of war and detainees—both military and civilian—and the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia.
Following the meetings, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said America will now ‘take this offer’ to Russia, adding that ‘the ball is in their court’.
He and national security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed president Donald Trump has lifted a pause on aid and security assistance to Ukraine.
Mr Rubio added that Trump ‘wanted this war to end yesterday’ and said he hopes Russia will accept the ceasefire deal ‘as soon as possible’.
‘We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no,” Mr Rubio said.
‘If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.’
A joint statement from the US and Ukrainian delegations earlier today confirmed the two countries will conclude a minerals deal ‘as soon as possible’ after relations between them soured following a highly confrontational meeting in the White House.
Mr Zelensky said the discussion between Ukraine and the US was ‘good and constructive’ and lasted for most of the day.
He added: ‘I am grateful to President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams.
‘During today’s talks, the US side proposed taking an even bigger first step – a 30-day full interim ceasefire, not only stopping missile, drone and bomb attacks, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line.’
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