Talks between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia have led to progress, with a 30-day ceasefire proposal now on the table. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his officials have agreed to the plan.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated, “The ball is now in Russia’s court.” However, it is unclear how Russia will respond. The Kremlin has said it will issue a statement after being briefed by Washington. Reports suggest that US envoy Steve Witkoff may travel to Moscow later this week.
Zelensky expressed Ukraine’s willingness to move toward peace, saying the country is “ready to take this step.” His deputy confirmed that US security assistance has been restored.
Meanwhile, in Washington, US President Donald Trump has indicated that he is open to inviting Zelensky back to the White House. This comes after their heated disagreement two weeks ago, which raised concerns about US-Ukraine relations.
Even as negotiations take place, fighting has not stopped. Overnight, a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack—believed to be the biggest so far—struck Moscow and surrounding areas, killing three people.
In Ukraine’s eastern Dnipro region, a major drone strike took place on Tuesday. Earlier reports confirmed that at least six people, including children, were killed in Russian attacks on Donetsk, according to local authorities.
The next steps for the ceasefire remain uncertain. While this development may bring temporary relief to Ukraine, the overall situation remains unpredictable.
For Ukraine, this ceasefire marks a significant shift. The US has accepted Kyiv’s offer to pause fighting in the air and at sea, extending it to a full land ceasefire.
Ukraine quickly agreed—on the condition that Russia does the same. Now, as Secretary of State Rubio put it, “the ball is in Russia’s court.”
However, there are risks. A ceasefire could freeze current battle lines, possibly solidifying Russian control over illegally annexed territories. The US has already warned Ukraine that it may have to surrender some land to end the war.
For Russia, a ceasefire would halt its slow but steady battlefield progress. While Ukraine’s forces would get time to recover, Russian troops are also exhausted, and the Kremlin knows that losing nearly 1,000 soldiers daily is unsustainable.
At the same time, Ukraine’s willingness to pause the war aligns with Trump’s interest in securing a mineral-sharing deal. Some analysts suggest that Ukraine is now following the direction the US wants, showing its readiness to cooperate in exchange for continued support.
Comment:*
Nickname*
E-mail*
Website
