The United States will resume military aid to Ukraine

The United States announced on Tuesday the resumption of security and intelligence assistance to Ukraine, as part of a diplomatic effort to move towards peace in the conflict with Russia.

In a joint statement issued after a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, both countries emphasized the importance of restoring lasting peace for Ukraine and acknowledged the bravery of the Ukrainian people in defending their nation, as reported by the U.S. Department of State on its official website.

During the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation expressed its gratitude to President Donald Trump, the U.S. Congress, and the American people for their support in the pursuit of a solution to the conflict.

Ukraine accepted Washington's proposal for an immediate and interim ceasefire of 30 days, which may be extended if both parties agree, contingent upon the simultaneous acceptance and implementation by Russia.

The United States will convey to Moscow that Russian reciprocity is key to achieving peace. As part of this process, Washington will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing with Ukraine and will resume military assistance, which had been affected by debates in the U.S. Congress.

The delegations also discussed the importance of humanitarian efforts during the ceasefire, including the exchange of prisoners of war, the release of detained civilians, and the return of Ukrainian children forcibly taken to Russia.

Both parties agreed to appoint negotiating teams and begin immediate talks to establish a long-term peace agreement that guarantees the security of Ukraine.

Moreover, they committed to finalizing an agreement as soon as possible for the development of Ukraine's critical mineral resources in order to strengthen its economy and security in the future.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, described the progress made in the meeting between representatives of the United States and Ukraine in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, as a "good day for peace."

Through his account on X, he highlighted President Donald Trump's leadership in the process and expressed gratitude for the hospitality of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who facilitated the meeting.

According to Rubio, the negotiations represent a significant step towards the restoration of lasting peace in Ukraine. Rubio emphasized that the responsibility now lies with Russia, suggesting that Moscow's reciprocity will be key in determining the success of the process.

Escalation in the conflict and reactions following the agreement in Jeddah

The meeting in Jeddah took place amid a military escalation in the region. Hours before the meeting, Russia reported that its air defenses shot down more than 300 Ukrainian drones in the largest attack of its kind against its territory since the war began.

In response, Moscow launched a massive bombing campaign over Ukraine using Shahed drones and ballistic missiles, intensifying hostilities, according to a report from Telemundo.

During the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation was led by senior defense and diplomacy officials, who were reserved at the beginning of the encounter.

The Saudi Foreign Minister was also present, and the flags of the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Ukraine were displayed in the room. However, neither Ukrainian nor American officials commented on the drone attack in Russia.

President Zelenskyy reacted to the meeting by emphasizing that Ukraine has sought peace from the very beginning of the conflict and outlined three priorities in the negotiations: to stop air and maritime attacks, implement confidence-building measures through the release of prisoners of war, and ensure the return of Ukrainian children taken to Russia.

Zelenskyy also stated that the American side understood these arguments and proposed an even bolder step: a provisional ceasefire of 30 days covering the entire front line, not just the Black Sea and the airspace.

Ukraine accepted this proposal, and now the responsibility falls on Washington to persuade Moscow to join.

The conversations in Jeddah reflect a renewed diplomatic effort following Zelenskyy's meeting with Trump at the White House on February 28.

At that moment, the relationship between both parties became strained due to the suspension of U.S. military aid, and Ukraine was urgently seeking its reinstatement.

In addition to the ceasefire, the possibility of an agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine regarding access to strategic minerals was discussed, a matter of interest to the Trump administration.

Ukraine has expressed its willingness to sign this agreement, which could strengthen its economy and security.

The Kremlin, for its part, maintains a firm stance and has not offered any public concessions. Russia has made it clear that it will only accept peace if Ukraine renounces its NATO membership and recognizes the occupied territories as Russian.

Meanwhile, the conflict on the front continues to evolve. Russia has made advances in the Donetsk region and has maintained its offensive in recent months.

The success of the ceasefire will now depend on the Kremlin's response and Washington's ability to secure its adherence to the agreement.

The President of the United States has made significant decisions regarding the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On March 4, he ordered a "pause" in military aid to Ukraine in an effort to pressure his counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, to initiate peace negotiations with Russia. This move has created tensions in the relationship between the two leaders, as Trump has criticized Zelensky for not showing enough gratitude for the support from the United States.

The suspension of aid affects military equipment that has not yet been delivered to Ukraine, leaving American support for the country in uncertainty. Russia reacted positively to the decision, stating that it could encourage Ukraine to engage in peace negotiations, although it has also been warned that Europe might try to compensate for the lack of U.S. support.

Just three days later, on March 7, Trump surprised everyone with a new stance, threatening to impose "large-scale" economic sanctions against Russia if a ceasefire and a definitive peace agreement were not reached. In his message, he urged Moscow and Kiev to come to the negotiating table before the situation worsened further.

This shift in Trump's stance has created uncertainty about his long-term strategy, as his approach had previously been more conciliatory towards Russia. However, experts warn that pushing for a rushed agreement could force Ukraine to accept territorial concessions in favor of the Kremlin. For now, neither Russia nor Ukraine has officially responded to Trump's threat of sanctions.

Frequently asked questions about the resumption of U.S. military aid to Ukraine