30-day ceasefire: What Ukraine, US say and how Kremlin reacts

Ukraine

After eight hours of negotiations between the Ukrainian and US delegations in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), Ukraine, which had initially proposed a ceasefire in the air and at sea, agreed to a full temporary ceasefire (for 30 days) as proposed by the US. Kyiv will only accept this move if Moscow agrees to do the same.

The final statement from the Jeddah meeting states that Ukraine agrees to a 30-day ceasefire regime, which may be extended "provided it is accepted and simultaneously implemented by the Russian Federation."

In response, Washington resumed security assistance to Ukraine and full intelligence-sharing, which had previously been suspended following a dispute at the White House involving Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Trump on the last day of February, when the Ukrainian leader was accused of "being not ready for peace."

Zelenskyy, for his part, said that Kyiv is ready for a ceasefire but emphasized that it will only take effect if Russia agrees to it too. According to him, if the Russians do not agree, it would mean that they are disagreeing not with Ukraine but with President Trump’s position.

As Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha emphasized in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, the agreement means only a temporary ceasefire and in no way means a frozen conflict. He explained that an official confirmation of Russia’s position is needed, provided directly to the American side. As of today, according to the Foreign Minister, this move has not happened.

Previously, Sybiha stated that Ukraine is already forming a national team to develop an action plan for monitoring the ceasefire regime if Moscow agrees to the 30-day truce.

One of the most complex issues arising is the control over ceasefire compliance, as the front line in Ukraine spans more than 1,300 kilometers.

The Ukrainian president believes that satellites and joint intelligence with the US could serve as tools for monitoring the ceasefire. Additionally, he proposes the use of reconnaissance drones for monitoring purposes.

In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, the Foreign Minister also noted that Ukraine will be the primary party overseeing compliance with the ceasefire regime since all events are unfolding on Ukrainian territory. He added that an international component is necessary to ensure objective recording of possible violations and provocations from the Russian side.

United States

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, immediately after the conclusion of US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, stated, "The ball is now in Russia’s court." Following the meeting between Ukraine and the US in Saudi Arabia, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited Moscow and held talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Witkoff then returned to discuss the next steps with Trump. The White House expressed "cautious optimism."

Shortly afterward, the US president said that the American side had a "very good and productive discussion" with the Kremlin leader. According to him, there is now a "very good chance that this terrible, bloody war may finally end."

Witkoff, who does not share the view of Western partners that Russia is unwilling to end the war in Ukraine, claims that there are "positive trends" for reaching a peace agreement in the near future.

In his view, a "technical issue" complicates the peace process — how to enforce a ceasefire along the entire line of contact between Russia and Ukraine.

"A ceasefire involves how to get people to not be fighting with each other over a 2,000 kilometer border," Witkoff said.

The special envoy added that there are many "elements" to discuss with both sides, including the fighting in Russia's Kursk region, the status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, occupied territories, and more.

According to him, Putin "accepts Trump’s philosophy" regarding the conditions for a ceasefire and peace. Witkoff said that his discussions with the Kremlin leader last week lasted several hours, were "positive," and "focused on resolving the issue."

The US president announced plans for a phone call with Putin on March 18 to discuss territorial issues and the "dividing up certain assets" between Russia and Ukraine.

"We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants," Trump said aboard Air Force One while speaking to journalists.

Russia

For over a day, the Russian leader did not publicly respond to the US initiative for a 30-day ceasefire. However, on March 13, before a meeting with Witkoff, he stated that Russia agrees with the US proposal but that "there are nuances," raising several questions, such as the presence of Ukrainian Armed Forces in Russia’s Kursk region, whether Ukraine would conduct mobilization during this period, and who would control ceasefire compliance along the entire front line.

Putin also did not rule out the possibility of a phone call with the White House leader regarding the ceasefire.

"I think we need to discuss this matter with our American colleagues, our partners. Perhaps, call President Trump and discuss it with him. But the idea of ending this conflict by peaceful means is something we support," he said.

Trump called Putin’s statement "encouraging but incomplete," while Zelenskyy dismissed it as "another round of Russian manipulations."

Kremlin statements also indicate that Putin conveyed "additional signals" to Trump through Witkoff. Neither the Russian nor the American side disclosed what these signals were.

Meanwhile, the US has hinted that it will impose severe sanctions on Russia if it refuses to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham warned that the Russian leader would regret it if he tried to "play games" with the US president. In an interview with CBS News, he said that Trump had taken "tough measures" to bring Ukraine "to the table," and Russia must agree to a ceasefire under the same conditions if Putin "genuinely seeks peace."

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), however, believe that Putin does not actually consider ending the war in Ukraine and is instead attempting to delay any peace agreements. If he does agree to a temporary truce, he will likely use it to rearm his forces. According to ISW’s assessment, Putin is most likely to violate any peace agreement and blame Ukraine for non-compliance.

Furthermore, The Washington Post, citing classified US intelligence documents, reported that Putin still aims to establish control over Ukraine. The Kremlin continues to adhere to its long-standing expansionist plans for Ukraine’s full capitulation despite negotiations with the Trump administration.

More about the idea of a temporary ceasefire and the results of Trump’s "shuttle diplomacy" — in a separate report on RBC-Ukraine.

Sources: an exclusive interview with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, statements from Ukrainian and US leaders, representatives of the US presidential administration, articles from Western media, as well as statements from the Kremlin and Russian leader Vladimir Putin.