US officials are preparing to travel to Russia to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, as confirmed by President Donald Trump. This comes after Ukrainian officials accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposal in a meeting with American officials in Saudi Arabia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the “ball is truly in their [Russia’s] court,” asserting that the only way to end the conflict is through peace negotiations.
The Kremlin has stated that it is reviewing the ceasefire proposal, and there may be a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the near future. Following the Jeddah talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that it is now up to the United States to persuade Russia to accept the “positive” ceasefire plan.
Trump, while speaking with Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin in the Oval Office, acknowledged receiving “positive messages” about the ceasefire but cautioned that a positive message alone does not guarantee success in such a critical situation. He did not specify which US officials would be traveling to Moscow, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that National Security Secretary Mike Waltz had communicated with his Russian counterpart. Additionally, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to lead negotiations in Moscow following the talks in Jeddah.
Trump expressed that the US believes this is the closest they have been to peace in the ongoing war. He also suggested that Russia would face significant consequences if it rejected the ceasefire, including financial pressure. However, he emphasized that his goal was to achieve peace, not escalate tensions.
The talks in Jeddah were the first direct discussions between US and Ukrainian officials since a contentious meeting in February between Zelensky, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance, which led to a temporary pause in US military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. That pause was lifted following the Jeddah talks.
Despite ongoing negotiations, fighting continues on the ground in Ukraine. Russian drones and missiles have struck targets in various cities, including Kryvyy Rih, Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv. In the Kursk region of Russia, Russian forces are reportedly advancing and reclaiming territory previously held by Ukrainian troops. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a command post in the region, marking his first visit since Ukraine’s incursion last year, and ordered the military to “fully liberate” the region.
Ukrainian military leader Oleksandr Syrsky indicated that some Ukrainian troops are withdrawing from Kursk to prioritize the safety of soldiers. The ongoing conflict and the pressure to find a resolution continue to shape the trajectory of peace talks.
