The U.S. has lifted its freeze on military and intelligence aid to Ukraine, following an agreement reached during talks in Saudi Arabia. Ukraine has signed on to a proposed “immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire” with Russia, which could be extended if both sides agree. Washington will soon present this proposal to Moscow.
As part of the deal, the U.S. will immediately resume sharing intelligence and providing security assistance to Ukraine. Both nations also discussed humanitarian issues, such as potential prisoner exchanges, the release of civilian detainees, and other relief efforts.
Additionally, Ukraine has agreed to negotiate a comprehensive agreement with the U.S. regarding the country’s vital resources, committing to finalize it “as soon as possible.”
While the discussions also touched on long-term security arrangements, U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz didn’t offer specifics. As for Russia, there’s been no formal response to the U.S.-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, though Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously expressed opposition to temporary ceasefire agreements, warning they could allow Ukraine to regroup and rearm. He emphasized in January that peace should not be short-term but based on respecting the legitimate interests of all nations in the region.
