(NewsNation) — Ukraine agreed to accept a deal for a temporary ceasefire in exchange for the U.S. resuming intelligence sharing and security assistance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will take the deal to Russia.
“I think today, Ukraine has taken a concrete step in that regard. We hope the Russians will reciprocate,” he said. “Our hope is that the Russians will say yes. that they will also agree. So the shooting will stop. The killing will stop. The dying will stop, and the talks can begin about how to end this war permanently in a way that’s acceptable and enduring for both sides.”
Officials from both the U.S. and Ukraine met in Saudi Arabia to broker the deal, with Ukraine expressing gratitude to the U.S. for previous assistance.
That comes after a heated exchange between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during an Oval Office photo opp, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance attacking Zelenskyy for what they said was a lack of gratitude.
Trump expressed hope for the deal.
“Hopefully Putin will agree to it also and we can get this show on the road,” he told reporters.
Ukraine has expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal that would enact an immediate 30-day ceasefire with Russia, which can be extended by mutual agreement, and must be reciprocated by the Russians.
The U.S. will lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine immediately in exchange.
Russia was not present at the negotiations and the U.S. is expected to communicate that reciprocity is key to the ceasefire.
Both delegations also agreed to name negotiating teams and continue negotiations toward a longer-term peace deal, with the U.S. communicating proposals to Russia. European leaders will also be involved in the discussions.
Ukraine and the U.S. will also work on an agreement to develop Ukraine’s mineral resources.
