Russia-Ukraine War Nears End? Zelenskyy Agrees to deal

Jeddah (The Uttam Hindu): Ukraine Supports Washington’s Proposal for a 30-Day Ceasefire with Russia. Ukraine has announced its support for Washington’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia. Kyiv called this discussion a “milestone” as the United States agreed to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The announcement came after over eight hours of discussions between Ukrainian and American officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the U.S. would now present the jointly signed proposal to Russia, and the ball is now in Moscow’s court.

Ceasefire Proposal

A joint statement mentioned that Ukraine has expressed its willingness to accept the U.S. proposal for an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which could be extended by mutual agreement between the parties. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his video address, stated that the U.S. proposed a complete interim ceasefire that would halt missile, drone, and bomb attacks not only in the Black Sea but across the entire front line. Zelenskyy said, “Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal – we see it as a positive step and are willing to adopt it.”

As part of the peace process, the U.S. and Ukraine also emphasized the importance of humanitarian relief efforts during the ceasefire. This includes prisoner exchanges, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly displaced Ukrainian children. Both parties agreed to finalize their negotiation teams and immediately start peace talks.

 What Happens Next?

Now, all eyes are on Russia to see whether it will accept the proposal. U.S. officials have stated that they will take the agreement to Moscow. Trump's National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, is set to meet his Russian counterpart in the coming days, and Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, plans to travel to Moscow this week to meet with Putin. Trump has indicated that he may speak with Putin this week and hopes negotiations for a permanent ceasefire will take place in the coming days. Following the U.S.-Ukraine talks on Tuesday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry stated that it has not ruled out the possibility of contact with U.S. representatives. However, it remains uncertain how Putin will respond to the proposal. The Russian President has previously stated that he is open to discussing a peace agreement but has repeatedly emphasized that he is against a ceasefire unless it guarantees Russia’s long-term security.

On January 20, Putin told his Security Council, “There should be no short-term ceasefire, nor any respite for reorganizing or rearming forces to continue the conflict. Instead, there should be a long-term peace.” He also rejected any territorial concessions and insisted that Ukraine must fully withdraw from the four Ukrainian regions currently under Russian control. According to media reports, a senior Russian lawmaker commented on Wednesday, “We fully understand the need for an agreement – but on our terms, not on American terms.” Since Donald Trump’s return as U.S. President, there have been significant changes in U.S.-Russia relations. In recent days, U.S. and Russian delegations held peace talks on the Ukraine war in Jeddah. Following the discussions, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that both sides agreed to establish a high-level team to promote economic cooperation and work toward peace in Ukraine.