Is a ceasefire coming?

Backtrack: USA releases Ukraine aid again

Negotiations lasted nine hours in Jeddah - with very concrete results.

(Bild: AFP/Official Telegram channel of the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak)

Following negotiations between the USA and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, the United States has reopened the recently halted aid with "immediate effect". Kiev has also provisionally agreed to accept the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire - now the ball is in the Kremlin's court.

Intelligence information should also be passed on again to the country attacked by Russia, according to a joint statement by the USA and Ukraine following talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Ukraine supports a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, and a raw materials agreement should be concluded "as soon as possible".

US Secretary of State pleased with "positive step"
Ukraine has taken a positive step, said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio following the conclusion of the talks. There is no deadline for the offer. However, it is hoped that it can be completed as soon as possible.

"We hope that the Russians will answer yes as soon as possible so that we can move on to the second phase of negotiations," Rubio explained. The Russians will be told what is now on the table. "If they say yes, I think we've made a lot of progress. If they say no, then unfortunately we know who is standing in the way of peace here." 

Now talks with Russian representatives
US President Donald Trump announced to reporters that he would discuss the ceasefire proposal with Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week. "It takes two to tango, as they say." Delegations would discuss the ceasefire as early as Wednesday. The Kremlin reacted cautiously and announced via state news agencies that contact with the USA would be possible in the coming days. 

According to the US National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, Ukraine had presented concrete proposals in Saudi Arabia. They had discussed concrete details of how the war could be brought to an end. Security guarantees for Ukraine were also discussed. Waltz will be involved in the talks with Russian representatives. Rubio, for his part, will talk to his colleagues from the G7 states.

Although Russia has signaled its willingness to negotiate in principle to date, it has stuck to its maximum demands until the end. In addition to the areas already conquered, Moscow is also laying claim to other areas that are still under Kiev's control.

According to Russia, it was also able to recapture large areas in the Kursk region of western Russia in a counter-offensive at the beginning of the week - which in turn is likely to weaken Ukraine's negotiating position.

Selensky thanks
According to the Reuters news agency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said in relation to the ceasefire that the proposal also concerned the front line, not just fighting in the air and at sea. Zelensky later also personally thanked Saudi Arabia for constructive talks in his evening video address (see tweet above).

"Our position remains absolutely clear: Ukraine has been striving for peace since the first second of this war, and we want to do everything we can to achieve this peace as quickly as possible and in a reliable manner - so that war does not break out again," said Zelenskyi.

The USA and Ukraine are taking another step towards each other in the negotiations in Saudi Arabia.

(Bild: ANDRIY YERMAK TELEGRAM HANDOUT)

USA demanded concessions
The meeting is taking place against the backdrop of a radical turnaround in US policy towards Ukraine since US President Donald Trump took office in January. A meeting between Zelensky and Trump at the White House at the end of February led to a scandal.

At the beginning of March, Trump also suspended US military aid to Ukraine. The US President is demanding concessions from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in order to end the war that has been going on for three years.

Europe demands security guarantees
Following a meeting with army chiefs from 30 countries in Paris on Tuesday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron called for a concrete plan for security guarantees for Ukraine. "In view of the acceleration of the peace negotiations", Macron "made it clear" that the allies must move from a concept to a "plan for the definition of credible security guarantees" "so that a solid and lasting peace in Ukraine is possible".

The President's office also announced on Tuesday that the participants had agreed that the security guarantees "should not be separate from NATO and its capabilities". The meeting was attended by military chiefs from 34 countries, including numerous EU countries as well as NATO members Great Britain and Turkey, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. Austria was not represented.