Ukraine agrees to temporary ceasefire, US to resume military aid

11 March 2025

Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire in its war with Russia, according to a joint US-Ukrainian announcement following an eight-hour meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The US, meanwhile, has agreed to resume military aid and intelligence sharing.

Ukraine is ready to agree to a US proposal for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire" that could be extended if necessary, the two countries said on Tuesday. This would include an end to Ukrainian missile, drone and bomb attacks, both in the Black Sea and along the entire front line.

In return, the US will "will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine". US president Donald Trump's administration had previously suspended all aid and intelligence sharing with the country after a public confrontation with Zelensky at the White House.

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Prisoner exchanges, the release of civilian detainees and the return of Ukrainian children forcibly removed during the ceasefire are planned. The announcement also said that an agreement to mine Ukraine's rare earth minerals would be signed "as soon as possible".

Ball in Russia's court

However, the proposal is subject to agreement by Russia. "The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace," the announcement said. Trump said he would speak to Russian president Vladimir Putin later on Tuesday or Wednesday and hoped he would accept the ceasefire.

In a statement, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said: "Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal - we see it as a positive step and are ready to accept it. Now it is up to the United States to convince Russia to do the same. If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately."

The news was welcomed by European leaders. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Antonio Costa said the agreement was "a positive development that can be a step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine".