US President Donald Trump has welcomed Ukraine’s decision to agree to a ceasefire following peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. He expressed hope that Russia would also accept the agreement to bring an end to the ongoing conflict.
Emphasizing the devastating toll of the war, Trump stated, “Ukraine, ceasefire, just agreed to a little while ago. Now we have to go to Russia and hopefully President Putin will agree to that also and we can get this show on the road. We can get this horrible war…I get the reports and they’re not American soldiers. They’re Ukrainian and they’re Russian. But, people are being killed outside of that. People are being killed in the cities as things explode throughout the cities and we want to get that war over with.”
He further added, “So, I think it’s very big. I think it’s a big difference between the last visit you saw at the Oval Office and so that’s a total ceasefire, Ukraine has agreed to it, and hopefully Russia will agree to it. We’re going to meet with him later on today and tomorrow and hopefully we’ll be able to wipe out a deal. But I think the ceasefire is very important. If we can get Russia to do it, that’ll be great. If we can’t, we just keep going on and people are going to get killed, lots of people.”
Trump’s remarks followed Ukraine’s acceptance of a US-proposed “immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire,” which can be extended by mutual agreement. The ceasefire remains subject to Russia’s acceptance and concurrent implementation.
As part of the agreement, the US will resume security assistance to Ukraine and lift the pause on intelligence sharing. A joint statement released after the US-Ukraine meeting in Jeddah stated, “The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace. The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.”
During the meeting, both delegations discussed humanitarian relief efforts, including prisoner exchanges, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of Ukrainian children forcibly transferred to Russia. They also agreed to appoint negotiating teams to work toward a lasting peace that ensures Ukraine’s long-term security. The US delegation committed to discussing these proposals with Russian representatives, and Ukraine reiterated that European partners should be involved in the peace process.
Both sides acknowledged the “bravery of the Ukrainian people” and stressed that “now is the time to begin a process toward lasting peace.” Ukraine also expressed its “strong gratitude to President Trump, the US Congress, and the American people” for their role in advancing peace efforts.
In addition, the two nations agreed to finalize a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources to boost its economy and ensure long-term prosperity and security.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Trump’s role in securing Ukraine’s agreement to the ceasefire, stating, “Today was a good day for peace. Thanks to @POTUS’s leadership and under the gracious hospitality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, we are one step closer to restoring durable peace for Ukraine. The ball is now in Russia’s court.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also welcomed the agreement, calling it a “positive step.” In a post on X, he wrote, “I received a report from our delegation on their meeting with the American team in Saudi Arabia. The discussion lasted most of the day and was good and constructive—our teams were able to discuss many important details. Our position remains absolutely clear: Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything to achieve it as soon as possible and reliably—so that war does not return.”
He further outlined Ukraine’s three key proposals: “Silence in the skies—stopping missile strikes, bombs, and long-range drone attacks; silence at sea; real confidence-building measures in this whole situation, in which diplomacy is ongoing, which primarily means the release of prisoners of war and detainees—both military and civilian—and the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia. The American side understands our arguments and considers our proposals. I am grateful to President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams.”
Last week, Trump revealed that he had received a letter from Zelenskyy expressing Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate a lasting peace and sign agreements on minerals and security. Addressing a joint session of Congress, Trump acknowledged Zelenskyy’s letter and mentioned that his administration had engaged in “serious discussions with Russia” and received “strong signals” indicating Moscow’s readiness for peace.
With Ukraine agreeing to the ceasefire, all eyes are now on Russia’s response, as the world watches to see whether Moscow will reciprocate in the pursuit of lasting peace.