In a move that could help Ukraine offset the immense costs of its war with Russia, the United States announced on Tuesday that it would resume military aid and intelligence sharing. The decision followed a meeting in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Ukrainian officials, culminating in a joint statement in which both parties agreed to a 30-day ceasefire. However, the agreement remains contingent on Russia’s approval—a rare condition in peace negotiations between two warring nations. The statement also called for a halt to missile, drone, and bomb attacks along the entire front line, including the Black Sea. The resumption of U.S. assistance suggests Ukraine may be open to significant concessions to end the three-year conflict, but it could also widen the divide between President Zelensky and the Trump administration, which has been skeptical of his leadership.
The talks in Jeddah were a sequel to a tense White House encounter last week between President Vladimir Putin’s emissary, Zelenskyy, and Trump. During that public showdown, the president dressed down Zelenskyy and accused him of ingratitude for allowing the US to access his country’s mineral wealth in exchange for billions in war funding. After the meeting in Jeddah, Zelenskyy thanked Trump for a letter expressing “positive feelings” after the talks and reiterated his view that Washington must work to persuade Russia to stop its invasion.
During the Jeddah talks, US negotiators worked on a minerals deal and discussed a range of issues to “get down to the substance of how this war is going to be permanently settled,” a senior official said. The talks also touched on issues such as Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s territory, NATO membership for Ukraine, and long-term security guarantees.
Rubio, who led the US delegation to the talks along with Witkoff and national security adviser Mike Waltz, was cautious about the outcome. “I think it’s a good first step, but it’s not the final answer,” he told reporters afterward. He hoped the 30-day ceasefire and other agreements would pave the way for a peace agreement.
The resumption of US assistance is a welcome development for Ukraine, which has struggled to maintain its workforce in its fight against Russia. Still, it will do little to end the war that has cost Kyiv thousands of lives and forced millions from their homes in what was once one of Europe’s most stable nations. Analysts say the United States must push for a complete peace agreement that requires Moscow to hand over land it has seized in eastern Ukraine and Crimea. That is something that Zelenskyy has steadfastly opposed, insisting on a “just peace” that would involve compensating Ukraine for the damage it has suffered in its defense of its homeland. It’s a position that is unlikely to change anytime soon. The story was updated on January 24 to include information about the resumption of US military aid to Ukraine and to clarify the circumstances that led to the pause in the first place.