Ukraine has expressed its willingness to accept a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, a proposal put forth by the US during talks in Saudi Arabia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the offer would be presented to Russia, emphasizing that the decision now rests with them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the proposal "positive" and urged the US to persuade Russia to agree.

The discussions in Jeddah marked the first official meeting between the US and Ukraine since a tense Oval Office encounter between Zelensky and former US President Donald Trump. Following the talks, the US pledged to resume intelligence sharing and security assistance to Ukraine, which had been previously suspended.

Both nations agreed to appoint negotiating teams and begin discussions aimed at achieving lasting peace and ensuring Ukraine's long-term security. Rubio expressed hope that Russia would accept the ceasefire, stating that Ukraine was ready to halt hostilities and engage in dialogue. He added that if Russia rejected the offer, it would reveal the true obstacle to peace.

The proposed ceasefire extends beyond Zelensky's earlier suggestion of a partial truce in specific areas. Zelensky thanked Trump for his constructive approach during the talks and urged Russia to demonstrate its commitment to ending the war. Moscow has yet to respond, with the Kremlin indicating it would issue a statement after being briefed by Washington.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has resulted in Moscow controlling approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory. Trump expressed optimism about the proposal, stating he would discuss it with Russian President Vladimir Putin and hoped for a resolution in the coming days. Meanwhile, Russia hinted at the possibility of talks with US representatives in the near future.