Ukraine Accepts US Ceasefire Deal, Awaits Russia

Ukraine agreed to the immediate introduction of a 30-day ceasefire, provided that Russia also takes this step. This decision was made during talks with the US in Saudi Arabia and was recorded in a joint statement published by the press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine.  

The document notes that the parties ‘agreed that now is the time to start the process of establishing a lasting peace’.  

‘Ukraine has expressed its readiness to accept the US proposal to immediately introduce a temporary, 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, subject to acceptance and simultaneous implementation by the Russian Federation,’ the statement said.  

It is also noted that the US will inform Russia that ‘reciprocity from Russia is the key to achieving peace’.  

During the talks, the parties discussed humanitarian issues, including ‘the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of detained civilians and the return of forcibly displaced Ukrainian children’.  

In addition, the parties agreed to form negotiating teams and ‘immediately begin negotiations to achieve a sustainable peace that will ensure the long-term security of Ukraine’.  

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on social media that during a meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Saudi Arabia, the United States proposed that the first step be taken and a complete ceasefire be introduced for 30 days. According to him, this applies ‘not only to missiles, drones and bombs, not only in the Black Sea, but along the entire front line’.  

‘Ukraine accepts this proposal, we consider it positive, we are ready to take such a step,’ he stressed.  

Zelenskyy noted that the next step should be to convince Russia of the need for the same decision.  

‘That is, we agree, and if the Russians agree, then the silence will work,’ the president added.  

He also emphasised that an important element of the discussion was the readiness of the United States to resume defence assistance to Ukraine, including the provision of intelligence.  

‘Ukraine is ready for peace. Russia must show its readiness to end the war or continue the war,’ Zelenskyy concluded.

As The Gaze previously reported, on Tuesday, Ukraine and the United States met for talks in Saudi Arabia to discuss ways to end the war that Moscow has unleashed against Kyiv.