Trump hopes Russia will accept US-Ukraine ceasefire proposal, talks likely soon

The US and Ukraine, in a joint statement, announced that Kyiv had agreed to a 30-day ceasefire as part of ongoing efforts to bring an end to the three-year war with Russia.

US President Donald Trump expressed hope on Tuesday that Russia would agree to a ceasefire proposal developed by American and Ukrainian officials. Speaking to reporters, Trump stated that a US meeting with Russian representatives was expected to take place later that day or on Wednesday to discuss the proposal, as per a Reuters report.

The US and Ukraine, in a joint statement, announced that Kyiv had agreed to a 30-day ceasefire as part of ongoing efforts to bring an end to the three-year war with Russia. Following this, Washington has decided to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which had been paused following a heated meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in February.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Tuesday that Washington would present the ceasefire offer to Moscow, stating that the decision now rested with the Kremlin.

“Our hope is that the Russians will respond positively as soon as possible, allowing us to move into the next phase - real negotiations,” Rubio remarked after an eight-hour diplomatic session in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. "We'll take this offer now to the Russians and we hope they'll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court," he further noted.

Trump also indicated plans to invite Zelenskiy back to the White House after their disastrous February meeting, which had left key agreements, including a critical minerals deal, in limbo.

The Kremlin has yet to confirm its stance on the ceasefire proposal. While Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously signaled openness to peace discussions, Russian officials have consistently opposed a ceasefire unless Ukraine withdraws from four contested regions, which Moscow claims as part of its territory. The Russian foreign ministry acknowledged the potential for talks with US representatives but did not indicate whether Moscow would accept the ceasefire plan.

Although not directly involved in the Jeddah talks, Zelenskiy, who was also in Saudi Arabia, welcomed the ceasefire plan, underscoring its significance in halting hostilities along the frontline.

“If the agreements take effect, these 30 days of ‘silence’ will allow us and our partners to prepare comprehensive documents ensuring lasting peace and security,” Zelenskiy stated.

The ceasefire proposal will be relayed to Moscow through multiple diplomatic channels. Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, is expected to meet his Russian counterpart, while special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to visit Moscow for direct talks with Putin.

Tuesday’s agreement marks a significant shift in US policy toward Ukraine, reversing a previous halt in military assistance under the Trump administration. The White House had previously cut intelligence sharing and arms support to Kyiv, reflecting Trump’s skepticism about continued aid to Ukraine.

With the ceasefire proposal on the table, Washington has also revived negotiations for a long-delayed critical minerals agreement with Ukraine, signaling renewed economic cooperation between the two nations.

European nations have been closely monitoring the developments, with some countries expressing openness to providing security guarantees for Ukraine. Talks on potential peacekeeping deployments in the region have also surfaced as part of broader discussions on long-term stability in Eastern Europe.