Zelenskyy says Ukraine considers US proposal for 30-day ceasefire as ‘positive'

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said that Ukraine considered Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia as “positive.”

Earlier, delegations from the US and Ukraine began talks in the Saudi city of Jeddah to discuss prospects for a possible peace deal with Russia, after which a joint statement declared Kyiv's readiness to accept the US proposal to enact an "immediate, interim" 30-day ceasefire.

In a video address, Zelenskyy said that the Ukrainian delegation reported to him about the talks, which he defined as “constructive.”

“Our position is absolutely clear: Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of the war, and we want to do everything to ensure that peace is achieved as soon as possible and in a reliable way – so that there is no more war,” Zelenskyy said.

He outlined three proposals from Ukraine for the meeting, namely the halting of the conflict at sea and in the air, and “real measures to establish confidence in this whole situation.”

“And today, during the discussion, there was a proposal specifically from the American side to immediately take the first step beyond that and try to establish a complete ceasefire for 30 days, not only with regard to missiles, drones and bombs, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire frontline.

“Ukraine accepts this proposal; we consider it positive; we are ready to take this step; and the United States of America needs to convince Russia to do so. That is, we agree, and if the Russians agree, the silence will take effect at that very moment,” Zelenskyy went on to say.

He also said that the US readiness to restore defense assistance and intelligence support to Ukraine was addressed during the meeting, expressing that Kyiv and its partners should have enough time to prepare the material necessary to ensure a “reliable peace and lasting security guarantees.”

“Ukraine is ready for peace. Russia must also show whether it is ready to end the war – or continue it. The time has come for the whole truth,” he added.