Ceasefire ‘in Russia’s hands,’ Ukraine says after US meeting in Saudi Arabia

LONDON — The prospects for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine are “in Moscow’s fingers,” a high aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated following successful U.S.-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

Andriy Yermak — the top of Zelenskyy’s workplace — was a part of the Ukrainian delegation that met with American representatives in Jeddah, the place each groups agreed to pursue a 30-day ceasefire and use the pause in preventing as a launchpad for full peace negotiations to finish Russia’s 3-year-old invasion of its neighbor.

“Ukraine is able to settle for a 30-day ceasefire if Russia agrees,” Yermak wrote on Telegram on Wednesday morning. “It is a obligatory step to start work on actual safety ensures and getting ready the ultimate phrases of a peace settlement.”

“However now the hot button is in Moscow’s fingers — the entire world will see who actually needs to finish the struggle and who is just enjoying for time,” he added.

Moscow was readying itself to listen to particulars from Tuesday’s U.S.-Ukraine assembly, with officers “scrutinizing” the publicly launched statements, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Wednesday.

He added that Russia “does not wish to get forward of itself” on the potential ceasefire, saying the Kremlin will wish to first get specifics instantly from Washington. A “summit telephone name” could also be within the playing cards, he stated.

President Donald Trump’s return to workplace has put Ukraine in a strategic bind, now not in a position to depend on the “ironclad” — if at occasions hesitant, in keeping with many Ukrainians — American help throughout former President Joe Biden’s time in workplace.

Trump has aligned with Russian narratives in regards to the battle, framing Ukraine as the important thing obstacle to peace, falsely blaming Kyiv for beginning the struggle, undermining Zelenskyy’s legitimacy as president and searching for to recoup years of American support through a controversial minerals sharing deal.

Final week, the Trump administration introduced a freeze on U.S. navy support to and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Tuesday’s assembly in Saudi Arabia noticed that pause lifted, officers stated.

Moscow has welcomed the unconventional U.S. shift in rhetoric and coverage, which culminated in an explosive Trump-Zelenskyy Oval Workplace assembly final month.

Kyiv has been striving to show its readiness for peace, whereas stressing that no deal can succeed with out American safety ensures to discourage repeat Russian aggression. Ukrainian leaders have additionally forged doubt on Russia’s obvious readiness to finish the preventing and urged their U.S. companions to be cautious of the Kremlin.

Following Tuesday’s talks, Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram of the 30-day ceasefire plan, “Ukraine accepts this proposal, we take into account it constructive, we’re able to take this step. America of America must persuade Russia to take action.”

“We agree, and if the Russians agree, the silence will take impact at that very second,” he added. “An necessary factor in immediately’s discussions is America’s readiness to revive protection help to Ukraine and intelligence help.”

“Ukraine is prepared for peace,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Russia should additionally present whether or not it is able to finish the struggle — or proceed it. The time has come for the entire fact. I thank everybody who helps Ukraine.”

Trump advised reporters Wednesday that he expects imminent additional talks with Russian representatives. “Ukraine has agreed to it, and hopefully Russia will comply with it,” the president stated of the proposed ceasefire.

“We’ll meet with them afterward immediately and tomorrow, and hopefully we’ll have the ability to wipe out a deal,” he continued. “However I believe the ceasefire is essential. If we are able to get Russia to do it, that’ll be nice. If we won’t, we simply maintain happening and individuals are going to get killed. Plenty of folks.”

When requested how shut a ceasefire was, Trump responded, “Nicely, I hope it’s going to be over the following few days. I might prefer to see. I do know now we have an enormous assembly with Russia tomorrow, and a few nice conversations hopefully will ensue,” Trump stated.

U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in an announcement stated that “the ball is now within the Russian court docket.”

“This is a vital second for peace in Ukraine and we now all must redouble our efforts to get to a long-lasting and safe peace as quickly as attainable,” he stated in an announcement on Wednesday.

Center East envoy Steve Witkoff — who took half within the latest U.S. talks with each Ukraine and Russia — is because of go to Moscow “within the coming days,” in keeping with a supply aware of the plans. Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti information company additionally reported Wednesday that CIA Director Jim Ratcliffe spoke by telephone with Sergey Naryshkin — the top of Russia’s Overseas Intelligence Service.

Russian Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov, in the meantime, stated in an interview revealed Wednesday that he doesn’t imagine Trump needs to supply safety ensures to Ukraine.

“He has his personal view of the scenario, which he repeatedly and instantly states,” Lavrov stated. “This struggle ought to by no means have began.”

Regardless of obvious progress in Jeddah, the preventing continues. Fierce fight is ongoing all alongside the entrance line, significantly within the western Russian Kursk area, the place Moscow’s forces are pushing Ukrainian troops again from positions seized in a shock August offensive.

In a single day, either side launched drones throughout the shared border. Russia’s Protection Ministry reported the downing of 21 Ukrainian UAVs.

Ukraine’s air power reported three missiles and 133 drones launched into the nation in a single day. The air power stated 98 of the drones have been shot down and 20 misplaced in flight with out inflicting injury. Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy and Kyiv areas have been affected, the air power stated.

ABC Information’ Kelsey Walsh and Joe Simonetti contributed to this report.