Photo by ἐμμανυελ
The Kremlin announced on Wednesday that it requires a briefing from the United States regarding the results of the US-Ukrainian discussions held in Saudi Arabia before it can provide its stance on the acceptability of a proposed ceasefire to Russia.
Following over eight hours of negotiations with Ukrainian representatives in Jeddah on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the United States would present a 30-day ceasefire proposal, which had been accepted by Ukrainian officials, to Russia. Additionally, the United States has agreed to reinstate military assistance and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, reversing its previous suspension and initiating bilateral discussions with Russia, marking a significant shift in longstanding US policy towards Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters that Russia is awaiting a briefing from Washington. He did not dismiss the possibility of a phone conversation between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, suggesting that such a call could be arranged swiftly if necessary. A senior Russian official previously conveyed to Reuters that Russia would need to negotiate the terms of any ceasefire and secure certain guarantees.
A source, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, informed Reuters that “Putin finds it challenging to consent to this in its present form.” The source added, “Putin holds a robust position as Russia continues to make advances.” Currently, Russia occupies nearly one-fifth of Ukraine, encompassing approximately 113,000 square kilometers (43,630 square miles), and has been gradually progressing for several months.
In August, Ukraine captured a small portion of western Russia as a strategic leverage point; however, its control over that area is reportedly diminishing, as indicated by open-source maps and Russian assessments. The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 has resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties, displaced millions, and has instigated the most significant confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.
