War-torn Ukraine has said it is ready to accept an immediate 30-day ceasefire with Russia proposed by the US, after a day of US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia, reports Al Jazeera.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would present the offer to Russia and that "the ball is in their court".
Ukraine's President Volodomyr Zelensky said it was now up to the US to convince Russia to agree to the "positive" proposal, BBC reported.
Tuesday's talks in Jeddah were the first official meeting between the two countries since the extraordinary clash between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.
In a joint statement, the US also said it would immediately restart intelligence sharing and security assistance to Ukraine, which Washington had suspended after the unprecedented meeting.
Russia says it needs to be briefed by the US on the outcome of US-Ukrainian talks before it would comment on the acceptability of the proposed ceasefire. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not rule out the possibility of a phone call between Putin and US President Donald Trump.
Germany welcomes Ukraine’s backing for a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire plan, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying it is “an important and correct step towards a just peace for Ukraine … Now it’s up to [Russia’s President Vladimir] Putin”.
China hopes “all parties, through dialogue and negotiation, will find a sustainable and lasting peace plan that considers one another’s concerns”, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning.
France‘s President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged the progress made in Jeddah and reiterated France’s dedication to achieving a solid and lasting peace, backed by “robust security guarantees for Ukraine”.
European Council President Antonio Costa hailed the ceasefire proposal as “a positive development that can be a step towards a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine”. He emphasised that “the EU is ready to play its full part, together with its partners, in the upcoming peace negotiations”.
Bd-pratidin English/Tanvir Raihan
