Ukraine has reached an agreement to implement a 30-day ceasefire in its ongoing war with Russia

Trump expressed optimism that Vladimir Putin might respond in kind, suggesting the possibility of the first ceasefire since the Russian president commenced his extensive military campaign in Ukraine over three years ago, back in 2022.

In a joint statement released after high-level discussions between US and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, an agreement has been reached nearly two weeks following a significant Oval Office confrontation between Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This meeting culminated in the White House’s decision to halt aid to Ukraine, a move that was met with opposition from the United States’ European allies.

During a briefing outside the White House on Tuesday, Trump announced, “This marks a complete ceasefire agreement.” He stated that Ukraine consented to the terms and expressed optimism that Russia would follow suit.

U.S. officials have expressed optimism that the newly reached agreement could act as a catalyst for negotiations aimed at concluding the ongoing conflict. In a further diplomatic push, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, is slated to visit Moscow shortly. During his visit, he plans to present a ceasefire proposal to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump stated that discussions with Russian officials are scheduled for later today and tomorrow, expressing optimism about reaching an agreement. He emphasized the significance of a ceasefire, noting that achieving Russian cooperation would be beneficial. However, he warned that without progress, the conflict would persist, leading to further casualties.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that diplomatic progress is contingent upon Moscow’s response following the conclusion of recent negotiations. In remarks reported by The Guardian, Rubio emphasized that the responsibility now lies with Russia, noting that any refusal from them would clearly indicate the barrier to achieving peace.