The United States will reinstate intelligence sharing and security assistance to Ukraine following key negotiations in Saudi Arabia, where Ukraine expressed readiness to accept a 30-day ceasefire with Russia.
A joint statement released Tuesday indicated that Ukraine agreed to the U.S. proposal for an immediate interim ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual consent between the parties. The statement also emphasized that the U.S. would communicate to Russia that reciprocal actions are essential for achieving peace. The Kremlin has not yet commented on this development.
The future of U.S. support for Ukraine had been in jeopardy following a public confrontation between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on February 28, which led to a pause in intelligence sharing. Trump’s administration has also been pursuing a more conciliatory approach towards Russia, long considered a geopolitical adversary of the West.
Trump briefly addressed the ceasefire proposal, expressing hope that Russia would agree to it as well. He also indicated that Zelenskyy would be welcomed back to the White House in the future.
Zelenskyy welcomed the ceasefire as a “positive step” and expressed Ukraine’s commitment to achieving peace as quickly and reliably as possible. The joint statement from the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations noted an agreement to expedite a deal for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources, aimed at expanding the economy and ensuring long-term prosperity and security for Ukraine.
Previously stalled due to the confrontation between Trump and Zelenskyy, the minerals agreement gained renewed attention during these discussions. The delegations also highlighted the importance of humanitarian relief during the ceasefire, including prisoner exchanges and the return of Ukrainian children forcibly relocated.
The announcement came shortly after Russia reported shooting down over 330 Ukrainian drones in an offensive that led to two fatalities and 18 injuries—the largest attack on Moscow since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine confirmed it targeted oil production and pipeline facilities.
The talks in Saudi Arabia, anchored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz, included Ukrainian leaders such as Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. They commended the resilience of the Ukrainian people in their defense efforts and agreed that it is time to initiate a path toward lasting peace.
At one point during the discussions, journalists were briefly allowed to observe a briefing, but were soon asked to leave as negotiations continued. The Ukrainian delegation had originally planned a news conference but opted for a scaled-down briefing with only their journalists, reflecting the sensitive nature of the talks.
Credit: NBC News
