Featured Image Credit: Chen Mengtong/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images
Topics: Ukraine, Russia, Donald Trump, World News, US News, Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ellie Kemp
Topics: Ukraine, Russia, Donald Trump, World News, US News, Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ukraine and the US have finally made progress with their most recent round of talks, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his hopes to end the three-year conflict between his country and Russia.
Last month, tensions heightened after an awkward Oval Office meeting between the two leaders saw Donald Trump hit pause on the US' military aid provision to war-torn Ukraine.
But US and Ukrainian officials met in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday (March 11) for eight hours of talks, which resulted in the two parities releasing a joint statement afterwards.
The meeting saw the US agree to immediately resume military aid to the war-torn country, as well as its intelligence sharing with Kyiv.
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Here's a look at everything we know about the deal so far, as US officials are expected to talk to delegates in Russia later this week.
US national security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed that President Trump agreed to immediately lift the previous pause in the 'supply of billions of of dollars of US military aid and intelligence sharing' with Ukraine.
“The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trump’s vision for peace," he added.
According to think tank Council of Foreign Relations, much of US aid has gone towards 'providing weapons systems, training, and intelligence that Ukrainian commanders need to defend against Russia.'
Ukraine also confirmed it would be open to a 30 day ceasefire in the war with Russia, however this is still subject to Kremlin agreement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin, explaining: “We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table.
"Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no.
“If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.”
Mr Waltz added that during their latest meeting, negotiators 'got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end', including long-term security guarantees.
Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak had earlier told reporters that the most important thing was 'how to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine,' adding that security guarantees were 'important to prevent Russia from invading again in the future.'
It's not yet been disclosed what these security agreements actually entail, however.
Following the conclusion of the successful meeting yesterday, the US pleaded with Russia to sign the ceasefire.
"Hopefully we'll take this offer now to the Russians and we hope that they'll say yes, they'll say yes to peace," Rubio said in a news conference.
"The ball is now in their court, but again the president's objective here number one above everything else he wants the war to end, and I think today Ukraine has taken a concrete step in that regard. We hope the Russians will reciprocate."
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Vladimir Putin said the Kremlin was 'carefully studying' statements made by Ukraine and the US following the peace talks in Jeddah.
However, he added that the US has yet to make contact to put the 30-day ceasefire deal to them.
It appears the Russian president has responded by ordering a fresh drone strike on Ukraine.
Last night, drone strikes took place in Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine and are thought to have continued through the night, says Mail Online.
Russia's attacks come after Ukraine ordered its largest recorded drone attack across 10 Russian regions, which took place shortly before yesterday's peace talks.
BBC News reported that three men died in the attack and that 18 people were injured.
In an address shortly after talks concluded, Zelenskyy reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to achieving a lasting peace.
He said: “Our position is absolutely clear: Ukraine has strived for peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything possible to achieve it as soon as possible – securely and in a way that ensures war does not return."