U.S. Resumes Military Aid as Ukraine Considers Temporary Ceasefire with Russia
In a significant development, the United States has resumed military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, marking a reversal from its earlier suspension. At the same time, Ukraine has expressed openness to a temporary 30-day ceasefire with Russia, provided Moscow agrees. This decision followed high-level talks held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, involving U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
A Shift in U.S. Policy
Just a week ago, the Trump administration had put military support for Ukraine on hold, in what many believed was an attempt to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy toward negotiating an end to the war with Russia. The halt in aid came after a tense meeting at the White House between Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump, during which the two leaders reportedly clashed over the ongoing conflict.
Now, in a striking shift, the U.S. has decided to lift the suspension. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the American delegation in Jeddah, announced that the U.S. would now present Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal to Russia. However, Russia has previously insisted that only a complete end to the war, without any conditions, would be acceptable.
“We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table,” Rubio stated. “Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. Now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no. If they refuse, then we’ll know exactly who is standing in the way of peace.”
Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing that the Ukrainian delegation had made it clear that they shared Trump’s vision for ending the war.
Progress Toward Negotiations
The discussions in Jeddah lasted nearly eight hours and seemed to ease some of the tension between Trump and Zelenskyy. During the talks, negotiators focused on how to achieve a lasting resolution to the war, including long-term security guarantees for Ukraine. As a result, Trump agreed to immediately resume the supply of billions of dollars in military aid, along with intelligence sharing.
“I’ve been saying that Russia has been easier to deal with so far than Ukraine, which is not supposed to be the way it is,” Trump commented after the talks. “But it is, and we hope to get Russia to the table. We now have a full ceasefire offer from Ukraine. That’s good.”
So far, the Kremlin has not responded directly to the new ceasefire proposal. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed that negotiations with U.S. officials could take place later this week. Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Moscow for possible discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, scheduling details remain uncertain.
A Ceasefire Amidst Escalating Violence
The negotiations in Saudi Arabia took place just hours after Russia launched its largest drone attack since the full-scale invasion began, shooting down over 300 Ukrainian drones. Ukrainian officials have not publicly commented on the attack. Meanwhile, Russia launched its own offensive, using 126 drones and a ballistic missile to strike Ukraine, further escalating tensions.
Despite the ongoing violence, Zelenskyy has reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to securing a lasting peace. In a speech released after the talks, he stated, “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.”
Andriy Yermak, a key adviser to Zelenskyy and the head of the Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah, described the negotiations as positive. “We share the same vision with our American partners, and we are moving toward the just peace that all Ukrainians have been waiting for,” he said.
Mixed Reactions to the Ceasefire Proposal
While some Ukrainians see the ceasefire as a potential step toward ending the war, others are skeptical. In Kyiv, psychologist Lena Herasymenko acknowledged that compromises would be necessary but warned that they should be “reasonable.”
“We have suffered massive losses in this war, and we don’t know how much more we will endure,” she said. “Our children are suffering, and we don’t know how future generations will be affected.”
On the front lines, Ukrainian soldier Oleksandr expressed concerns that a ceasefire might give Russia time to regroup and strengthen its forces.
“If there is a ceasefire, it would only allow Russia to increase its firepower, manpower, and missile stockpiles. Then they would attack Ukraine again,” he warned.
Russia’s Response and Internal Debate
In Moscow, pro-Kremlin politicians and military analysts have voiced strong opposition to a ceasefire, arguing that it would primarily benefit Ukraine. Hardline ideologue Alexander Dugin wrote, “A ceasefire isn’t what we need.”
Retired general Viktor Sobolev, now a member of Russia’s parliament, also pushed back against the idea. “A 30-day truce would give Ukraine time to boost its weapons supply and reorganize its troops before resuming hostilities,” he cautioned.
Political commentator Sergei Markov suggested that Russia could use the ceasefire negotiations to push for an embargo on Western military aid to Ukraine as a condition for any truce. “An embargo on arms supplies to Ukraine could be a requirement for the ceasefire to be implemented,” he wrote.
Russia’s Stance on Peace Talks
So far, Moscow has refused to offer any major concessions. President Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia wants a comprehensive settlement rather than a temporary pause in fighting. The Kremlin has maintained that it would only agree to a peace deal if Ukraine abandons its efforts to join NATO and recognizes Russian control over occupied Ukrainian territories. Currently, Russia holds about 20% of Ukrainian land and has been advancing on key areas, especially in the eastern Donetsk region.
Despite the ongoing violence, Ukraine has continued investing in its military, particularly in the development of advanced drone technology, which has allowed Ukrainian forces to carry out strikes deep inside Russian territory.
What’s Next?
As negotiations continue, all eyes are on Moscow to see how Russia will respond to Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal. The coming days will be critical in determining whether this latest attempt at diplomacy leads to meaningful progress—or if the war will continue with no end in sight.
