A deal to end fighting in Ukraine could be agreed within days according to US President Donald Trump, after President Zelensky accepted a US proposals for a 30-day ceasefire. Mr Trump hopes to seal the deal when he speaks to Russia’s President Putin this week. He said: “Ukraine has agreed to it. Hopefully President Putin will agree to that also.”
The US President said he hoped the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire proposal can be solidified “over the next few days”. The breakthrough, which also sees the US resume full military and intelligence support for Ukraine, follows talks between the American administration and representatives of the Ukrainian President in Jeddah.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “I warmly welcome the agreement today in Jeddah and congratulate President Trump and President Zelensky for this remarkable breakthrough. This is an important moment for peace in Ukraine and we now all need to redouble our efforts to get to a lasting and secure peace as soon as possible.
“As both American and Ukrainian delegations have said, the ball is now in the Russian court. Russia must now agree to a ceasefire and an end to the fighting too.
“I will be convening leaders this Saturday to discuss next steps. We are ready to help bring an end to this war in a just and permanent way that allows Ukraine to enjoy its freedom.”
Pressure is now on the Russian leader to agree to end the war. Meanwhile, relations between Mr Trump and Ukraine’s President Zelensky appear to have been transformed, with Mr Trump saying he could invite Zelensky back to the White House after their dramatic public bust-up last month.
The announcements emerged as senior officials from Ukraine and the United States opened talks in Saudi Arabia focused on ending Moscow’s three-year war against Kyiv and hours after Russia shot down more than 300 Ukrainian drones.
US President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel later this week to Moscow, where he could meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a person familiar with the matter but not authorised to comment publicly.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin.
“We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no,” Mr Rubio said.
“If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.”elensky said.
US national security adviser Mike Waltz said: “The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trump’s vision for peace.”
Mr Waltz said negotiators “got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end”, including long-term security guarantees.
And, he said, Mr Trump agreed to immediately lift the pause in the supply of billions of of dollars of US military aid and intelligence sharing.
Meanwhile, in an address posted shortly after Tuesday’s eight hours of talks ended, Mr Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to achieving a lasting peace, emphasising that the country has sought an end to the war since its outset.
“Our position is absolutely clear: Ukraine has strived for peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything possible to achieve it as soon as possible – securely and in a way that ensures war does not return,” Mr Z