Ukraine accepts 30-day immediate ceasefire proposal by the US, will get 'security assistance'

Ukraine has accepted a proposal by the United States for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire" with Russia.

The ceasefire was announced via a joint statement put out by the U.S. and Ukraine in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Mar. 11, 2025.

The ceasefire is, however, subject to "acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation".

U.S. president Donald Trump, in turn, expressed his hope that Vladimir Putin will "reciprocate", The Guardian reported.

The Kremlin has been dismissive of negotiating a ceasefire with Ukraine in the past.

Putin, for instance, declared on Mar. 6 that Russia does not intend to "give in to anyone" or make "compromises" in any peace negotiations regarding its war with Ukraine.

Just hours after the meeting in Jeddah, Russia launched an air strike in Kyiv.

Humanitarian relief efforts

The joint statement noted that both the U.S. and Ukraine delegations are putting together negotiating teams, and will immediately begin talks towards "an enduring peace that provides for Ukraine's long-term security".

European partners will also be involved in the peace process.

The U.S. will also resume intelligence sharing with Ukraine, and "resume security assistance to Ukraine".

The delegations also discussed possible humanitarian relief efforts, particularly during the ceasefire period, such as the "exchange of prisoners of war, the release of civilian detainees, and the return of forcibly transferred Ukrainian children."

A surprising turnaround

The ceasefire proposal comes just days after a heated White House press conference between Trump, Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky, and U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.

What was meant to be a cordial signing of a minerals agreement between Ukraine and the U.S. quickly turned into a shouting match.

The meeting then appeared to "upend" the U.S.-Ukraine alliance.

Ahead of the meeting in Jeddah, however, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the U.S. was still open to hearing what concessions Ukraine was willing to make for a ceasefire deal, CNN reported.

The pressure is on Russia

The ceasefire's longterm success depends on how negotiations with the Russians pan out.

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has previously expressed Russian opposition to the presence of any kind of European peacekeeping force in Ukraine, and said that Russia sees "no room for compromise" on this issue.

Lavrov said Russia would consider such a peacekeeping force as akin to a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) deployment in Ukraine.

A spokesperson for Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, said Russia considers any proposal that gives Ukraine a "respite" along the frontline as unacceptable.

Following the ceasefire proposal, however, Zakharova said Russia "does not rule out contacts with U.S. representatives within the next few days".

Top photo from President of Ukraine website.