The United States has agreed to reinstate military assistance and intelligence-sharing arrangements with Ukraine following high-level talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The decision marks the end of a week-long impasse that had raised concerns over the potential strengthening of Russia’s battlefield position.
A joint statement released shortly after the discussions confirmed that Washington and Kyiv had agreed upon an “immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire,” contingent upon Russia’s acceptance.
“The ball is now in their court,” remarked US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, underscoring that the next move lies with the Kremlin.
Diplomatic engagements
The development follows a controversial decision by President Donald Trump to suspend American military assistance and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine last week, citing Kyiv’s alleged lack of readiness for peace.
The suspension, coming in the wake of a disastrous Oval Office meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had alarmed European allies, who scrambled to devise alternative means of supporting Ukraine.
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White House envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to travel to Moscow this week for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the second round of direct negotiations between the two nations.
Rubio confirmed that Russia would receive the ceasefire terms through "multiple channels" for review.
“The deadline is we hope to do this as soon as possible,” he added.
Strategic implications
The temporary halt in aid had sparked concerns that Ukraine’s military capabilities would be severely undermined, particularly with regard to ammunition stockpiles and intelligence coordination.
European nations, already stepping up military spending, had engaged in multiple rounds of deliberations over how to sustain Ukraine’s defensive operations in the absence of US support.
Beyond ceasefire negotiations, US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz indicated that discussions also encompassed humanitarian relief efforts and Ukraine’s request for security guarantees.
Kyiv has insisted on a binding American military commitment to uphold any peace accord with Russia, citing the latter’s history of reneging on ceasefire agreements and its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
However, the Trump administration has remained firm in its stance that any long-term security guarantees must be provided by Europe, aligning with its broader strategic shift away from military commitments on the continent.
Although European states have bolstered defence spending in recent years, experts suggest they would struggle to assume a role of such magnitude without substantial American backing.
Trump’s NATO policy
Meanwhile, President Trump reiterated his administration’s stance on NATO’s financial commitments, stating that the US would reassess its obligations towards allies that fail to meet their defence expenditure targets.
“If you’re not going to pay your bills, we’re not going to defend you,” Trump remarked, reinforcing his demand for increased European contributions to the alliance.
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