(L–R) U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Saudi National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammad al-Aiban, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, and Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerovto, hold a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 11, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool Photo via AP)
Kyiv has agreed to enter into a 30-day cease-fire with Moscow as a means of kickstarting further talks to end the ongoing Russia–Ukraine war.
Delegations from Washington and Kyiv shared a joint statement announcing the proposed 30-day pause in the fighting, after concluding a lengthy round of discussions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on March 11.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House national security adviser Mike Waltz represented the United States at the Jeddah talks, while Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak, and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov represented Kyiv.
“We’ll take this offer now to the Russians and we hope that they’ll say yes,” Rubio said in a press statement following the meeting.
Tuesday’s meeting offered an opportunity for the representatives from Washington and Kyiv to resume in-person talks after a Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy devolved into an argument over Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate and make compromises with Russia.
In the days after the Oval Office spat, Trump ordered a pause on all U.S. aid flowing to Ukraine, including intelligence sharing. Following the Jeddah talks, the U.S. and Ukrainian delegations announced the United States would lift its hold on intelligence sharing with Ukraine and resume security assistance.
This is a developing report and will be updated with additional details.
From The Epoch Times
