Almost a month after the phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, which initiated ceasefire talks after more than four years of conflict, Ukraine has taken a significant step toward a truce deal orchestrated by Washington. In a meeting held on Tuesday, March 11, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accepted the proposal to negotiate a 30-day ceasefire in exchange for the United States lifting the suspension of military aid to Ukraine. However, Russia has rejected the proposal, arguing that it would facilitate the regrouping and resupply of the Ukrainian army.
Moscow’s reaction could be expected. Attacks have recently intensified on both sides, in order to arrive at the negotiating table with greater leverage. Kyiv, however, had little room for maneuver in that endeavor, given that its stability and defense rely entirely on U.S. intelligence. This became particularly evident after Washington halted all logistical support, allowing Russia to up its attacks and tighten the noose around Kyiv. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in a press conference following the meeting:
As you know, this was negotiated through our Treasury and its Ukrainian counterpart. And therefore, the president, both presidents, will instruct the appropriate members of our governments to finalize the signing of the agreement and its implementation, so this was communicated today and will happen.
For his part, Zelensky said:
Our Ukrainian proposal for this meeting with the Americans was three things: peace in the sky—missiles, bombs, long-range drones—, silence at sea, and real measures to build confidence in this entire situation in which diplomacy is taking place, primarily the release of prisoners.
Additionally, he emphasized Ukraine’s willingness to accept the ceasefire proposal and the need for the United States to convince Russia to do the same.
However, Russia’s response was firm. Russian Senator Konstantin Kosachev stated that any peace agreement with Ukraine would be conducted on Moscow’s terms, not Washington’s. “Our conditions remain unchanged. We will not accept a ceasefire that only benefits Kyiv and its allies.”
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated that Russia will not accept the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine under any circumstances as part of a potential peace agreement. Lavrov stressed that any pact must preserve lives and nailed down that Russia, not the United States, would dictate the agreement’s terms. Moscow is thus preempting any attempt by the European Union or NATO to propose the presence of peacekeeping forces that might lead to future conflicts with third-party nations. Not that sending European peacekeepers was ever a serious option, let us add, much more just an idea floated by some Western European leaders to earn a seat at the negotiating table.
Russian sources have also emphasized that any agreement must reflect Russia’s battlefield advances and address its concerns.
President Putin himself previously stated that a lasting peace is needed, rather than a temporary truce, which would require Ukraine to abandon its aspirations of joining NATO and cede the disputed territories.
In this context, the situation is at an impasse. While Ukraine and the United States seek to advance toward a ceasefire and an eventual peace agreement, Russia remains firm in insisting on its demands and conditions.
The recent history of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine has been marked by failed attempts and mutual distrust. The 2022 peace talks did not yield concrete results due to opposition from some Western countries, the discovery of Russian war crimes, and disagreements over conditions. Russia’s exclusion from previous stages of negotiations, such as the June 2024 Ukraine Peace Summit, certainly did not help to restore trust.
