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A top US official has expressed optimism about securing a ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia ahead of critical talks in Saudi Arabia.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you haven’t been following along, the US initially held talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia and later in Turkey—without Ukraine’s involvement—sparking outrage from both EU and Ukrainian leaders, who insisted that no peace deal could be made without Ukraine at the table. The situation escalated when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US officials at the White House. That meeting quickly unraveled into a heated confrontation, ultimately leading to Zelenskyy being told he had to leave. In the aftermath, the US suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine—a move some say was meant to pressure Kyiv into negotiations with Russia. This suspension has severely impacted Ukraine’s military operations, limiting their ability to conduct precision strikes and forcing them to adjust their defensive strategies as Russian forces continue their assaults.
What’s going on now: Ahead of the talks, Ukrainian media has confirmed that President Zelenskyy plans to propose a partial ceasefire covering aerial and naval operations while keeping ground combat ongoing to prevent Russia from regrouping and launching new offensives. The proposal includes halting long-range missile strikes, drone attacks, and naval engagements in the Black Sea, where Ukraine currently holds the advantage.
Halting long-range strikes could be a lucrative offer for Russia, which has been financially impacted by Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure—an essential pillar of its economy. Over the last three months, Ukraine has ramped up strikes on various refineries, aiming to disrupt operations for Russian energy companies. Some economists argue that Russian energy exports are the only thing preventing the country’s economy from completely collapsing.
Despite all of this, Ukrainian officials have made it clear they will not agree to any territorial concessions or a full ceasefire that could allow Russia to reinforce its troops.
US reacts: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has responded to Ukraine’s proposal, stating that while a partial truce is a step forward, it alone is not enough to resolve the war. Speaking to reporters ahead of the talks, Rubio said that the US delegation is primarily there to listen to Ukraine’s position and assess how far Ukraine is willing to go in negotiations. He acknowledged that peace talks require both sides to make difficult compromises and reiterated the United States stance that there is no military solution to the war—only a diplomatic one.
Secretary Rubio has also hinted that resuming US military aid and intelligence sharing could be contingent on Ukraine’s approach to peace talks, adding further pressure on Ukrainian officials.
