US ready to offer Russia a 30-day ceasefire"

 US ready to offer Russia a 30-day ceasefire:

"Ukraine has said it is ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire with Russia proposed by the United States, which emerged after U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia."

US Secretary of State "Marco Rubio" said he would put the proposal to Russia and that "the ball is now in Russia's court"— while Moscow has not yet commented publicly on the matter.

Ukrainian President "Volodymyr Zelensky" said it was now the US's responsibility to persuade Russia to accept the "positive" proposal.

The talks in "Jeddah" on Tuesday were the first formal meeting between the two countries since an extraordinary spat between Zelensky and President "Donald Trump" at the White House on "February 28"

In a joint statement, the United States said it would immediately restore "intelligence sharing" and "security assistance" to Ukraine, which it had suspended after a public row at the White House.

The statement said:

"Both delegations agreed to nominate their negotiating teams and begin immediate talks to achieve a lasting peace that ensures the long-term security of Ukraine."

Rubio said at a press conference in Jeddah on Tuesday night that he hoped Russia would accept the proposal.

He said:

"Ukraine is ready to stop the shelling and start talks, and if Russia rejects this offer, we will unfortunately find out who the real obstacle to peace is."

"We have made an offer today that Ukraine has accepted, namely a ceasefire and immediate talks."

"We are now taking this offer to Russia and hoping that they will say 'yes' to peace. The ball is now in their court."

Trump's special envoy Steve Wittkoff, who was at the Jeddah talks, is due to travel to Russia in the next few days, a source familiar with the matter told the BBC, but that plan could change quic

Analysis: Pressure may now be on Russia

The 30-day ceasefire offer goes beyond Zelensky's proposal for a partial ceasefire (in the air and at sea).

The Ukrainian president thanked "Trump" for the "constructive" talks.

In his video statement, Zelensky said:

"Russia will have to show whether it wants to stop the war or continue it."

"Now is the time to reveal the whole truth."

The Kremlin has not yet responded formally, but said on Tuesday that it would make a statement after the Washington briefing.

Meanwhile, influential Russian MP "Konstantin Kosachev" said:

"The terms of any agreement will not be American, but ours."

Kosachev, who is chairman of the "Federation Council" s international affairs committee, said:

"Real agreements are still being written on the battlefield," and stressed that Russian forces were advancing in Ukraine.

It should be remembered that Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022** and now occupies about 20 percent of Ukrainian territory

Trump's response

At the White House, "Trump" told reporters that he would speak to Russian President **Putin** soon, and expressed hope that Putin would agree to the proposal.

They say it takes two to tango," Trump said.

He added:

We have a big meeting with Russia tomorrow, hopefully a very good conversation."

He also said he was ready to "invite Zelensky to Washington again.'

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman "Maria Zakharova" said that Russia was not ruling out the possibility of talks with US representatives in the next few days, as reported by the Russian state news agency "Tass."

When a reporter asked whether relations between Trump and Zelensky were "repaired?" So Rubio replied:

I hope 'peace' is back on track now."

He added:

This is not a movie or a show. People are dying in this war today, they died yesterday, and sadly, if there is no ceasefire, they will die tomorrow."

Tensions before talks

At least three people were killed in drone strikes near Moscow before the US and Ukrainian delegations were due to meet. Russia says this shows Ukraine is not ready for diplomacy to end the war.

Critical minerals deal

Trump and Zelensky also agreed to complete a deal on critical minerals "as soon as possible."

Ukraine has offered the US **access to its valuable mineral reserves** in return for **security guarantees** — but the deal has been stalled due to a White House row.

Rubio said the deal was not the subject of Tuesday's talks, but is already being negotiated between Ukraine and the US Treasury.

US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz was also at the Jeddah talks.

In a joint statement, Ukraine said "Europe must be included in any peace process."

Europe's concern

The new US approach, in which Europe is being excluded from the talks, has forced European leaders to hold several emergency meetings.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen "called Tuesday's talks "a positive development."

"The effort to end the war in Ukraine" has been part of the US president's promises, and "Trump has increased pressure" on Zelensky to accept a ceasefire, although he is not willing to provide immediate security guarantees to Ukraine.

Last Friday, Trump also threatened more sanctions on Russia to make the deal happen, even though Russia had already responded to US sanctions.