Breaking News: Ball in Russia’s court,’ top US diplomat says after ceasefire talks with Ukraine….See More

US resumes weapons shipments to Kyiv, will lift intel sharing pause

The top US diplomat hailed Tuesday as a “good day for peace” after American and Ukrainian officials met face-to-face for the first time since last month’s Oval Office fray between President Donald Trump and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Thanks to @POTUS’s leadership and under the gracious hospitality of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, we are one step closer to restoring durable peace for Ukraine,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

The ball is now in Russia’s court,” he added in a post on X.

Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz headed a US delegation that met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak. The meeting was held in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah, where Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Mosaad bin Mohammed al-Aiban represented the Kingdom.

A joint US-Ukrainian-Saudi statement was released after the hourslong meeting, where the US announced the resumption of intelligence sharing with Kyiv and the lifting of the suspension of weapons shipments, while Ukraine expressed readiness to reach a 30-day ceasefire with Russia.

Both sides agreed that it is time to begin a process toward lasting peace, the joint statement read.

Washington committed to discussing proposals for an enduring peace that provides Ukraine’s long-term security with representatives from Russia, and the Ukrainian delegation reiterated that European partners should be involved in the peace process.

His special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, is expected to meet with Vladimir Putin later this week in Russia to discuss the Russian response to the latest developments. Rubio also said he would speak to his Russian counterpart soon.

Trump has threatened heavy sanctions on Russia and its banking sector if it doesn’t comply or show a willingness to end the war, which began after Moscow invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Putin has said that Ukrainian membership in NATO is a non-starter. Kyiv wants security guarantees and protection from another Russian invasion later on.

After the meeting, speaking to reporters, Rubio said Ukraine was ready to stop shooting and start talking. “I hope they [Russia] are going to say yes. And if they do, then I think we made great progress. If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know the impediment to peace here,” he said.

The joint statement also said both countries’ presidents agreed to conclude a minerals deal as soon as possible to “expand Ukraine’s economy and guarantee Ukraine’s long-term prosperity and security.”

The deal, which was supposed to be signed during last month’s Trump-Zelenskyy meeting, now appears imminent.

Following a verbal spat between the US president and vice president on the one hand and Zelenskyy on the other, Washington halted intel sharing and weapons assistance to Ukraine. Trump said the US would welcome back the Ukrainians once they showed their readiness to discuss a peace deal, which is one of Trump’s campaign pledges and top priorities as president.

For its part, Saudi Arabia said Tuesday’s talks come as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to resolve the war and “leveraging its balanced relations with all parties and within its efforts to enhance global security and peace, and based on its belief in the importance of adhering to international laws and norms.

The talks also come as part of the Kingdom’s belief that dialogue is the only path to resolving disputes and bringing perspectives of both sides closer to achieve productive results that contribute to global security and peace,” the Saudi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.