This decision marks a significant shift from just a week ago when the measures were imposed to encourage Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to enter talks to end the war with Russia. The suspension of U.S. assistance followed a tense White House meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump, where they discussed the war.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the U.S. delegation to the talks in Jeddah, said Washington would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin. Moscow has so far opposed any proposal short of a permanent end to the conflict without any concessions.
“We’re going to inform them of what’s being proposed. Ukraine is willing to stop fighting and start negotiating. It now depends on their response,” Rubio said after the meeting. “If they refuse, we’ll know the obstacle to peace here.”
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witcoff, is expected to travel to Moscow later this week, where he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a source close to the matter.
The Kremlin has not publicly offered any concessions. Russia has maintained that it is ready to cease hostilities if Ukraine abandons its bid to join NATO and recognizes regions occupied by Moscow as Russian. Russia has captured nearly a fifth of Ukraine’s territory.
