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Ukraine has agreed to accept a U.S.-proposed immediate 30-day ceasefire if Russia did the same, according to the joint statement issued by Ukraine and the United States on March 11, 2025. The agreement resulted from more than eight hours of meetings between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in the coastal city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Trump administration lifted its pause on military and intelligence support for Ukraine after Kyiv endorsed the U.S. ceasefire proposal.

The U.S. and Ukrainian officials acknowledged that the terms of any ceasefire would be subject to Russia’s approval. There was no immediate comment on the ceasefire proposal from Moscow, which did not attend the talks in Jeddah.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the agreement now puts the pressure on Russia to end the war. “We’ll take this offer now to the Russians, and we hope that they’ll say yes, that they’ll say yes to peace,” Rubio said. “The ball is now in their court.”

Today was a good day for peace. Thanks to @POTUS‘s leadership and under the gracious hospitality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, we are one step closer to restoring durable peace for Ukraine. The ball is now in Russia’s court.

— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) March 11, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump later welcomed the news and said he would talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the 30-day ceasefire proposal.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who did not participate in the Saudi Arabia talks, said in a statement that Washington “understands (Ukraine’s) arguments and considers our proposals.” He added that “Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything to achieve it as soon as possible and in a reliable way—so that war does not return.”

I received a report from our delegation on their meeting with the American team in Saudi Arabia. The discussion lasted most of the day and was good and constructive—our teams were able to discuss many important details.

Our position remains absolutely clear: Ukraine has been… pic.twitter.com/7EZXTVA52C

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 11, 2025

The talks, seen as a critical moment in Kyiv’s strained transatlantic relations, followed Ukraine’s largest drone attack on Moscow since the war began.

U.S. and Ukrainian officials hold high-stakes talks in Saudi Arabia

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the American delegations and emphasized the importance of gauging Ukraine’s willingness to make concessions as a step toward ending the conflict. Speaking to reporters in Jeddah, Rubio stated, “We’re getting there,” following hours-long negotiations. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz echoed this sentiment, hinting at progress in the discussions.

Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, led the Ukrainian delegation. He described the talks as “very constructive.”

The meeting comes after a chaotic encounter between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump last month, which resulted in uncertainty regarding continued American military and intelligence support for Ukraine.

Europe hails Ukraine ceasefire ‘breakthrough’

European leaders hailed the announcement as a “breakthrough” that could help end Russia’s three-year war.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer warmly welcomed the news from Saudi Arabia. “This is an important moment for peace in Ukraine and we now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible,” Starmer says in a statement. He added: “Russia must now agree to a ceasefire and an end to the fighting too.”

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the Trump administration for facilitating a breakthrough in diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing war in Ukraine. “I want to really note the fact that, thanks to him, there has now been a breakthrough when it comes to Ukraine, in terms of starting talks with both the Russians and the Ukrainians,” Rutte said.

President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen says the bloc welcomes the news, calling it a “positive development that can be a step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine.”

“The EU is ready to play its full part, together with its partners, in the upcoming peace negotiations,” António Costa, president of the EU Council, said.

U.S.-Ukraine relationship

Under the new Trump administration, Washington had paused military aid, withheld security guarantees, and scaled back intelligence-sharing efforts with Kyiv, marking a significant policy shift from its previous unwavering support.

The U.S.-Ukraine relationship had been further strained by the suspension of intelligence-sharing and military assistance, a drastic departure from Washington’s previous stance. Despite Trump’s recent statement that intelligence-sharing with Kyiv was “just about” to be resumed. No clear timeline has been provided for the full reinstatement of military support.

One day before the meeting in Jeddah, Rubio cautiously addressed the issue of U.S. military aid, saying, “All the notion of the pause in aid broadly is something I hope we can resolve … I think what happens tomorrow will be key to that.”

U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, who has been involved in facilitating the talks, expressed optimism about signing the minerals deal with Ukraine. Such an agreement would create a joint fund from Ukrainian mineral exports and is seen as crucial for securing sustained American backing.

“I think that we’re going over there with an expectation that we’re going to make substantial progress,” Witkoff said during an interview.

Despite these developments, Zelenskyy remained under immense pressure from Trump’s administration to demonstrate a commitment to a swift end to the war. Ukraine’s European allies, on the other hand, maintain that negotiations should come from a position of strength and not be rushed.

Security guarantees and temporary truce

Ahead of the talks, Zelenskyy proposed a temporary truce in the air and at sea as a means of testing Moscow’s commitment to peace. “Realistic proposals are on the table. The key is to move quickly and effectively,” Zelenskyy posted on X.

However, skepticism remains regarding Russia’s willingness to engage in a ceasefire. Russian officials have previously dismissed such proposals as tactical maneuvers designed to buy Ukraine time and prevent further military setbacks.

The U.S. delegation, while open to dialogue, is also pressing Ukraine to consider “realistic peace,” implying potential territorial concessions to Russia. Currently, Russian forces occupy approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014, and parts of the Donetsk region.

Drone attack on Moscow

As diplomatic discussions unfolded, Ukraine launched a large-scale drone attack on Moscow and surrounding regions, demonstrating its continued ability to strike deep into Russian territory. According to Russian officials, 337 drones were intercepted, but not before causing casualties and temporary shutdowns at Moscow’s four airports.

At least three individuals were killed in a strike on a meat warehouse, while Ukraine claimed responsibility for targeting an oil refinery near Moscow and a facility in Russia’s Oryol region. Additionally, Hungary reported a suspension in crude oil shipments via Russia’s Druzhba pipeline because of the assault.

Meanwhile, Russian forces continued their offensive in the Kursk region, aiming to dislodge Ukrainian troops from a strategic area seen as a potential bargaining chip in peace negotiations.

Zelenskyy’s meeting with Mohammed bin Salman

Zelenskyy, who is also traveling to Saudi Arabia, met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah ahead of key discussions between Ukrainian and U.S. officials. The Saudi leader reaffirmed his country’s support for international efforts to resolve the crisis and achieve peace, Saudi media stated.

Zelenskyy’s office released a statement at the end of the meeting saying that the Ukrainian president recognized Saudi Arabia’s efforts in seeking ways to achieve a just and lasting peace. “The President emphasized that Ukraine seeks to achieve peace as soon as possible and is committed to constructive dialogue,” the statement said.

During the meeting, Zelenskyy and Mohammed bin Salman discussed Saudi Arabia’s potential role as a mediator in the release of military and civilian prisoners and the return of deported children, as well as prospects for strengthening cooperation in this area.

Future ahead

The 30-day ceasefire agreement sets the stage for a tense and uncertain diplomatic road ahead. With the ball now in Russia’s court, global attention will focus on Moscow’s response, which could either open the door for meaningful peace negotiations or lead to further escalation. The coming days will be crucial in determining the future of the war and the international response.

As U.S. and Ukrainian officials continued negotiations, Russia remains on the offensive, launching sustained missile and drone attacks against Ukrainian cities. In the past week alone, Zelenskyy reported that Russia deployed over 1,200 aerial bombs, 870 attack drones, and more than 80 missiles across Ukrainian territory.

With battle lines still drawn and major geopolitical stakes in play, the high-stakes talks in Saudi Arabia may serve as either a crucial turning point toward peace or another missed opportunity in a prolonged conflict.