U.S. Resumes Military Aid to Ukraine Amid Ceasefire Talks with Russia

The United States has agreed to restore military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine following high-level discussions in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The breakthrough came after Kyiv signaled its willingness to accept a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire in its ongoing conflict with Russia, according to a joint statement released by both nations on Tuesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that Washington would now present the ceasefire proposal to Moscow, urging Russia to respond swiftly. “Our hope is that the Russians will answer ‘yes’ as quickly as possible, so we can move to the second phase—real negotiations,” Rubio told reporters after more than eight hours of talks.

The conflict, which began three years ago when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has resulted in heavy losses on both sides. Currently, Russia controls about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.

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Despite recent military advances, Moscow has remained resistant to a ceasefire, insisting on a peace deal that safeguards what it calls its “long-term security.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed openness to peace talks but has consistently rejected the idea of a ceasefire. The Kremlin has stated that any deal must include Ukraine’s full withdrawal from four regions that Russia claims as its own.

While Russia’s foreign ministry acknowledged the possibility of engaging with U.S. representatives, it made no concrete commitments regarding negotiations.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was also in Saudi Arabia but did not participate in the discussions, welcomed the ceasefire proposal. He clarified that the agreement would apply to the entire frontline of the conflict, not just air and naval operations.