Exclusive: Conditions US set for resuming aid to Ukraine and who proposed full truce
Photo: US and Ukrainian delegations during talks in Saudi Arabia on March 11 (Getty Images)
The idea of a possible full ceasefire was developed directly during yesterday's talks between the Ukrainian and American delegations in Jeddah. It replaced the initial idea of a limited truce at sea and in the air, an informed source told RBC-Ukraine.
“It happened in the course of negotiations, a significant part of which was devoted to discussing Ukrainian proposals for silence in the sky and sea, the American side liked this proposal, then they came up with a counter-proposal to expand it, we agreed on the wording further, in what form, and the final result was in a joint statement,” the source said.
No additional preconditions for the resumption of American aid were put forward to Ukraine. The main one was readiness for a ceasefire. An informed source told RBC-Ukraine.
“All the prerequisites and conditions are set out in the statement, there were no other conditions or prerequisites, the main thing is readiness to cease fire,” the source said.
When asked when and how the agreement on minerals could be signed, the source said: “As soon as possible. Ukraine is ready.”
The source, when asked whether specific security guarantees for Ukraine were discussed in Jeddah: “Military assistance and intelligence sharing were discussed, and they were unblocked as a result of the negotiations.”
30-day truce. What the US and Ukraine agreed on during the talks
On Tuesday, March 11, high-level talks between the Ukrainian and American delegations took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. They lasted for eight hours. The parties agreed on a number of issues, including a temporary ceasefire in the war between Ukraine and Russia and the resumption of US military assistance to Kyiv.
An important element is that Ukraine will agree to a 30-day truce only if Russia agrees to a similar step.
Therefore, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that “the ball is now in Putin's court,” emphasizing that further developments depend on the Kremlin's decision. European leaders also share this opinion.
After the talks between Ukraine and the United States, US President Donald Trump expressed hope that Putin would agree to a truce and said he intended to discuss it with the Russian leader this week.
The Kremlin reacted to the idea of a 30-day truce for the first time today. Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said that “it is not yet necessary to run ahead on this matter.”
Putin himself has not yet commented on this initiative. Reuters, citing sources among the Russian authorities, reports that Putin “will find it difficult to agree to the ceasefire in its current form.”
Read more about the 30-day ceasefire and what the US and Ukraine agreed on at the talks in Saudi Arabia in a separate RBC-Ukraine article.
