As Ukraine says it has accepted a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, US secretary of state Marco Rubio says “the ball is now in Russia’s court docket”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned he accepted the proposal as his nation, which has been warding off Russia’s full-scale invasion for the previous three years, was “prepared for peace”.
Here’s what Sky Information correspondents consider the newest developments within the ongoing efforts to finish the hostilities.
Follow the latest: Trump warns Putin ‘it takes two to tango’
Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent
Will Russia settle for a ceasefire? Arduous to say.
As a result of all through the previous few weeks and months, Moscow has all the time mentioned it does not desire a non permanent truce.
As a substitute, it is referred to as for a long-term peace deal that tackles what it sees because the “root causes” of the battle.
In Moscow’s thoughts, “root causes” means Western aggression and NATO’s historic eastward enlargement.
Marco Rubio and Mike Waltz in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Pic: Reuters
By making {that a} constant criterion for peace, Russia has been making an attempt to make sure that its personal safety considerations are met within the occasion of a closing deal being signed.
I believe it is also a approach of legitimising its full-scale invasion, which Russia claims was completed to guard Russian audio system in japanese Ukraine because of the Minsk agreements not being upheld.
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The Minsk agreements have been ceasefire offers signed between Kyiv and Russian-backed separatists within the Donbas in 2014 and 2015. Moscow’s reasoning is that Kyiv cannot be trusted to stay to a truce.
However that is largely posturing by the Kremlin, to strengthen its personal narrative across the battle – that it’s the sufferer, preventing a defensive struggle.
A extra compelling motive as to why Russia favours a everlasting deal over a brief one is as a result of Ukrainian forces are on the again foot.
A pause within the preventing would give them time to regroup, so why would Moscow agree?
It needs to have Kyiv begging for mercy on the subject of the negotiating desk, so {that a} everlasting deal could be totally in Russia’s favour.
The issue for Vladimir Putin, although, is that he now has to place his cash the place his mouth is.
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‘I will speak to Vladimir Putin’
With a purpose to win Donald Trump’s favour, the Kremlin has been relentless in making an attempt to forged itself because the peacemaker and Ukraine because the warmonger.
It is labored up till this level, with America more and more siding with Russia. However now, rapidly, Kyiv is looking Moscow’s bluff.
James Matthews, US correspondent, in Washington DC
It seems to be like progress and it seems like progress. How a lot it’s precise progress might be a matter for the Russians.
Moscow will determine if this step ahead quantities to 2 steps again.
The People and Ukrainians did the simple bit in Saudi Arabia. This was a diplomatic therapeutic between each events, a reset on relations that restores a army alliance.
Clearly, Ukraine will welcome the US lifting its pause on intelligence sharing and weapons provide.
It should strengthen the ties between Washington and Kyiv, even when belief stays undermined.
There’s deep suspicion in Kyiv surrounding the motivations of President Trump and his relationship with Mr Putin.
Ukrainian president Zelenskyy referred to as the ceasefire proposal a constructive step – he is content material so far as it goes, even when he’ll have questions across the context.
Ukraine was second behind Russia on the visitor record for talks with the People and, whereas Mr Trump has courted Mr Putin, he is cold-shouldered Mr Zelenskyy.
Discussions between Mr Trump and Mr Putin will certainly have given the US president a information on how the Russians will reply to gives made.
Would Mr Trump have proposed a ceasefire with out an assurance that Mr Putin would settle for?
Unlikely, given every part Moscow has to realize.
The long run floated for Ukraine by the Trump administration does not embody NATO membership, does not mirror a need to roll again Russian territorial positive factors and does not rule out lifting sanctions in opposition to Moscow.
For Ukraine, there are tough questions on what comes after the weapons go silent.
A ceasefire within the present situations is not the place to begin that Mr Zelenskyy would have chosen however, realistically, it is the one place to begin he is bought.
Alex Rossi, worldwide correspondent, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
It was an extended day of negotiations however on the finish it appeared that the Ukrainian and American delegations had discovered widespread floor. Once they entered the talks they seemed targeted – there’s a lot driving on the talks.
Once they emerged after sunset it was clear that that they had achieved one thing – small steps on what might be an extended and tough highway to attain any kind of peace.
The preliminary settlement noticed progress on a readiness by the Ukrainians to simply accept a right away interim 30-day ceasefire in principle.
While there are nonetheless many excellent points, there’s now motion to finish a struggle that has been grinding on for greater than three years.
For the Ukrainians, they wished and wanted to fix the connection with the US after that now infamous diplomatic spat within the Oval Workplace.
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What occurred when Trump met Zelenskyy?
They have been searching for a restoration of military aid and intelligence sharing. The US has now introduced it would instantly restart its help.
What the People wished to see was a Ukraine that was ready to be versatile and make tough choices to succeed in a peace settlement.
The Ukrainians have been clearly persuasive on that rely and the US delegation sounded satisfied.
However the struggle can not cease with out Russian settlement and whether or not Moscow bites and likewise agrees to an interim ceasefire is much from clear.
They’ve given combined alerts.
On the one hand, officers have mentioned the Kremlin’s struggle aims stay the identical and there might be no concessions however they’ve additionally mentioned they’re ready to listen to the main points of the talks.
Clearly the ball is now in Moscow’s court docket.
Mr Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is heading to Moscow later within the week.
It is reported he’ll talk about the diplomatic proposals with Mr Putin.
However getting a long-lasting and sustainable peace is not going to be simple – Russia’s chief is unlikely to simply accept something that doesn’t permit him to current his “particular army operation” as something apart from a complete victory.
And till an settlement is reached, the violence and the killing will proceed.
