Donald Trump has said he will speak to Vladimir Putin and has invited Volodymr Zelensky back to the Oval Office after Ukraine agreed to accept a US proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire .
Mr Zelensky has called on Russia to accept the deal, adding the ceasefire “will take effect immediately” if Mr Putin agrees.
The Trump administration also said it would immediately lift its intelligence sharing with Ukraine following “positive” talks in Saudi Arabia.
Asked whether Zelensky was invited back to the White House, Trump said: “Sure, absolutely”.
On the ceasefire deal, he added: “We just agreed to it a little while ago. Hopefully, president Putin can agree to it also and we can get this show on the road.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would now take the offer to the Russians, and that the ball is now in Moscow's court.
Zelensky said his team proposed three key points: Silence in the skies—stopping missile strikes, bombs, and long-range drone attacks and silence at sea.
The release of prisoners of war and detainees—both military and civilian and the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia.
Key Points
- Ukraine agrees US proposal for immediate 30-day ceasefire
- Trump will talk to Putin over ceasefire deal and invites Zelensky back to White House
- Zelensky - If Russia agrees ceasefire will take effect immediately
- US ends pause on intelligence and 'security assistance' to Ukraine
- Russia hit by 'largest ever' Ukrainian drone attack over Moscow
Ukraine agrees US proposal for immediate 30-day ceasefire
Tuesday 11 March 2025 18:10
Ukraine has agreed to accept a US proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire and to take steps toward restoring a durable peace after Russia's invasion, according to a joint US-Ukraine statement.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would now take the offer to the Russians, and that the ball is now in Moscow's court.
The two sides, meeting in Saudi Arabia, also agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources, the statement said.
The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv, a week after imposing the measures to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.
Russian lawmaker says any Ukraine deal will be on Moscow's terms, not Washington's
03:10
,
Arpan Rai
A Russian lawmaker has demanded that any ceasefire proposal or deal will be on Moscow’s terms and not Washington’s after the US said the ball is now in Russia’s court.
"Russia is advancing (in Ukraine), and therefore it will be different with Russia," said Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia's parliament, in a post on Telegram.
"Any agreements – with all the understanding of the need for compromise – on our terms, not on American. And this is not boasting, but understanding that real agreements are still being written there, at the front. Which they should understand in Washington, too."
Ukrainian foreign minister informs European partners about 'milestone' talks with US
02:56
,
Arpan Rai
Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said he has informed a number of European counterparts about the "milestone" talks with the US where Kyiv said it was ready to support Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.
Mr Sybiha, who took part in the Jeddah talks, said that afterwards he talked to several European foreign ministers, including British foreign secretary David Lammy and European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, "about the outcomes of the milestone meeting."
Mr Sybiha said that the Ukrainian team told the US officials that European partners must participate in any peace negotiations.
"We adhere to the position: no decisions on the long-term security of Europe without Europe," he said in a social media post.
After more than eight hours of meetings between Ukrainian and US officials in Saudi Arabia yesterday, the US agreed to resume military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
'Ball is clearly in Russia's court'
02:02
,
Barney Davis
Emmanuel Macron posted on X: “I welcome the progress made during the discussions between the United States of America and Ukraine held today in Jeddah, particularly regarding the idea of a possible 30-day ceasefire.
“The ball is now clearly in Russia’s court. France and its partners remain committed to a solid and lasting peace, supported by robust security guarantees for Ukraine.”
'Ukraine shares Trump's vision for peace' - US national security adviser
01:29
,
Barney Davis
US national security adviser Mike Waltz said: "The Ukrainian delegation today made something very clear, that they share President Trump's vision for peace."
Mr Waltz said negotiators "got into substantive details on how this war is going to permanently end", including long-term security guarantees.
And, he said, Mr Trump agreed to immediately lift the pause in the supply of billions of dollars of US military aid and intelligence sharing.
Meanwhile, in an address posted shortly after Tuesday's eight hours of talks ended, Mr Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's commitment to achieving a lasting peace, emphasising that the country has sought an end to the war since its outset.
"Our position is absolutely clear: Ukraine has strived for peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything possible to achieve it as soon as possible - securely and in a way that ensures war does not return," Mr Zelensky said.
Minerals deal expected to go through - Rubio
01:04
,
Barney Davis
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US-Ukraine minerals deal was not the subject of negotiations in Jeddah on Tuesday, but he anticipated it being signed soon.
"That is something that was negotiated through our Treasury (Secretary) and his counterpart on the Ukrainian side," Rubio told reporters after the meeting.
He said that both presidents would "instruct the appropriate members of our governments to bring to finality the signature of the deal."
"That was communicated today. And that's going to happen," Rubio said.
Yermak says both US and Ukraine want 'just peace'
Tuesday 11 March 2025 23:58
,
Barney Davis
The Ukrainian and U.S. delegations discussed all issues related to the process of ending the war, according to the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office Andriy Yermak.
"It was a very good, substantive, and meaningful conversation. We truly spoke as partners who have been together since the first day of Russia's full-scale aggression. The main achievements of today's meeting are, first of all, the immediate resumption of US assistance and intelligence sharing.
“We also discussed all the issues related to the process of ending the war with a just peace," Yermak said.
He added that there was a frank exchange of views and key positions.
"What you see in the joint statement truly reflects our shared understanding: we are united in our vision of how to move toward the long-awaited just peace for Ukraine. And this is happening with the support of our main strategic partner -- the United States.”
Russia launches air attack on Ukraine capital Kyiv, mayor says
Tuesday 11 March 2025 23:15
,
Barney Davis
Russia launched an overnight air attack on Kyiv, with air defence forces engaged in repelling the strikes, Vitali Klitschko, mayor of the Ukrainian capital said on Wednesday.
Von der Leyen: EU ready to join future peace talks
Tuesday 11 March 2025 21:51
,
Barney Davis
Ursula Von der Leyen has joined world leaders in saying the ball is now in Russia’s court after the agreement.
The President of the EU commission posted on X: “We welcome today’s news from Jeddah on the US-Ukraine talks, including the proposal for a ceasefire agreement and the resumption of US intelligence sharing and security assistance.
“This is a positive development that can be a step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The ball is now in Russia’s court. The EU is ready to play its full part, together with its partners, in the upcoming peace negotiations.”
Watch: Marco Rubio announces Ukraine has agreed to 30-day ceasefire
Tuesday 11 March 2025 21:30
,
Barney Davis
'We will know impediment to peace' Rubio says if Russia refuses to accept ceasefire
Tuesday 11 March 2025 21:04
,
Barney Davis
Trump’s invite to Zelensky marked a sharp shift from only a week ago, when it imposed the measures to push the Ukrainian President to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.
The suspension of assistance came days after Zelenskyy and President Donald Trump argued about the war in a tense White House meeting.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the US delegation to the talks in Jeddah, said Washington would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin, which has thus far opposed anything short of a permanent end to the conflict without accepting any concessions.
“We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no,” Rubio told reporters after the meeting. “If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.”
In Pictures: Donald Trump pulls up outside White House in Tesla with Elon Musk to announce ceasefire agreement
Tuesday 11 March 2025 20:40
,
Barney Davis
Four killed as Russian missile damages grain vessel in Ukraine's port
Tuesday 11 March 2025 20:30
,
Barney Davis
A Russian missile attack on Tuesday damaged a grain vessel in the Black Sea port of Odesa, killing at least four people, Ukraine's Sea Ports Authority said on Facebook but shortly after deleted the statement.
The statement identified the vessel as MJ Pinar and said it was loading wheat for export when the strike happened.
Starmer welcomes 30-day ceasefire deal
Tuesday 11 March 2025 20:17
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Barney Davis
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed a 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has agreed to and said it was now up to Russia to end the fighting.
"As both American and Ukrainian delegations have said, the ball is now in the Russian court," Starmer said in a statement, congratulating both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump for the "remarkable breakthrough".
Starmer said he would use a meeting of world leaders that Britain is convening on Saturday to discuss next steps.
"We are ready to help bring an end to this war in a just and permanent way that allows Ukraine to enjoy its freedom," he said.
Russia does not rule out contacts with US over next few days, foreign ministry says
Tuesday 11 March 2025 19:57
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that it didn't rule out contacts with the United States representatives over next several days, state news agency RIA reported, after Donald Trump said that there would be a US meeting with Russia later Tuesday or Wednesday.
Trump said that he hoped Russia would agree to a ceasefire plan drawn up by American and Ukrainian officials and that a total ceasefire could be achieved in the three-year war in the coming days.
He said he thought he would talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin about it this week.
Trump will talk to Putin over ceasefire deal and invites Zelensky back to White House
Tuesday 11 March 2025 19:24
,
Barney Davis
President Donald Trump said he hopes Russia will agree to a ceasefire plan drawn up by American and Ukrainian officials.
In remarks to reporters, Trump said: “We just agreed to it a little while ago. Hopefully, President Putin can agree to it also and we can get this show on the road.”
The two leaders clashed in an Oval Office meeting last month but Trump said he would invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky back to the White House.
Asked whether Zelensky was invited back to the White House, Trump said: “Sure, absolutely”.
“I think it’s a big difference to the last visit in the Oval Office”, he added, flanked by Elon Musk.
“If we can get Russia to do it, that will be great; if we can’t, we keep on going on and lots of people are going to get killed.”
He added that he expects to talk to Mr Putin this week and said to reporters that it takes “two to tango”.
Poland's Tusk hails 'important step' as Ukraine ready to accept ceasefire
Tuesday 11 March 2025 19:15
,
Barney Davis
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that it seemed there had been an important step towards peace, after Ukraine voiced readiness to accept a United States proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in its conflict with Russia.
"It seems like the Americans and Ukrainians have taken an important step towards peace," Tusk wrote on X. "And Europe stands ready to help reach a just and lasting peace."
Zelensky - If Russia agrees ceasefire will take effect immediately
Tuesday 11 March 2025 19:10
,
Barney Davis
Volodymr Zelensky has called on Russia to accept the ceasefire deal his team have agreed with the United States.
He posted on X: “Our position remains absolutely clear: Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything to achieve it as soon as possible and in a reliable way—so that war does not return.
“At this meeting with the Americans, Ukraine proposed three key points:silence in the skies—stopping missile strikes, bombs, and long-range drone attacks; silence at sea; real confidence-building measures in this whole situation, in which diplomacy is ongoing, which primarily means the release of prisoners of war and detainees—both military and civilian—and the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia.
“The American side understands our arguments and considers our proposals. I am grateful to President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams. During today’s talks, the US side proposed taking an even bigger first step—a 30-day full interim ceasefire, not only stopping missile, drone, and bomb attacks, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line.
“Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal—we see it as a positive step and are ready to take it. Now, it is up to the United States to convince Russia to do the same. If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately.”
'Key to peace in Russia's hands'
Tuesday 11 March 2025 18:54
,
Barney Davis
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's chief of staff said that an interim 30-day ceasefire proposed by the United States and backed by Kyiv would now show if Russia wanted peace or not.
"Today, the key is in Russia's hands. The whole world will see who wants peace and who does not," he told reporters after Ukraine-US talks in Saudi Arabia
Agreement reached between US and Ukraine after 8 hour negotiations
Tuesday 11 March 2025 18:50
,
Barney Davis
After more than eight hours of talks, the two sides issued a joint statement that said Ukraine was willing to accept the US proposal for an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire that could be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, subject to acceptance and implementation by Russia.
"The United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace," the statement said.
"The United States will immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine," the statement said.
The two sides also said Washington and Kyiv agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources, a deal that has been in the works for weeks and was thrown into limbo by an acrimonious White House meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Zelenskiy last week.
US ends pause on intelligence and military aid to Ukraine
Tuesday 11 March 2025 18:44
,
Barney Davis
The Trump administration reversed course on Tuesday in an announcement that the US would resume sharing real-time intelligence with Ukraine while also unpausing shipments of military aid.
Protestor burns Tesla charges and spray paints 'long live the Ukraine'
Tuesday 11 March 2025 18:20
,
Alex Croft
A man burned three Tesla chargers and spray painted “long live the Ukraine” in an apparent protest against the approach of US president Donald Trump and Elon Musk to war in Europe.
The man also inadvertently set his own clothes on fire, police said. He spray painted a crude reference to Mr Trump next to the pro-Ukrainian slogan on the pavement next to the charing stations near a mall in North Charleston.
No arrests have been made.
North Charleston Police spokesperson Harve Jacobs said Tuesday. The agency turned the investigation over to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Firefighters cut the power to the chargers and put out the blaze.
US - Ukraine meeting 'positive and productive'
Tuesday 11 March 2025 17:51
White House press secretary Karoline Levitt says the US-Ukraine meeting in Saudi Arabia was "positive and productive", according to Axios.
Dutch parliament urges government not to join EU defence spending plans
Tuesday 11 March 2025 17:40
,
Alex Croft
The Dutch parliament has urged the government not to partake in recent EU plans to boost European defence spending.
The plans come in response to Donald Trump’s withdrawal of military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, as Europe looks to stand on its own to feet in securing its eastern borders with Russia.
Laxer fiscal rules and joint borrowing would allow countries to spend more on their defence budgets, in plans hailed by Dutch prime minister Dick Schoof.
But three of the Dutch government coalition's four parties backed a motion by a conservative opposition group objecting to the financing arrangements.
The motion is non-binding and it is unclear how the government will respond.
The plans, which are currently being detailed, may be decided with a qualified majority of EU governments - meaning no single country would be able to block them.
How did Ukraine’s ‘unprecedented’ drone attack manage to break through Moscow’s defences?
Tuesday 11 March 2025 17:18
,
Alex Croft
World affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Ukraine’s massive and widespread drone attacks against Russia on the eve of talks between the US and Ukraine employed exactly the same tactics as Moscow has used to terrorise its neighbour for three years: the swarm.
If the Kremlin’s figures are to be believed – they usually are not, but in this case they might be accurate – Ukraine flew 337 aircraft into Russian airspace.
The drones used are made in Ukraine, employ the latest technology, and were sent in such numbers that Russian air defences were unable to cope.
Most nights, Ukraine is hit by waves of 100-200 cheap Shahed drones – a 40kg bomb powered by a lawnmower engine – which are sent along with ballistic missiles carrying half a tonne of high explosives.
Emmanuel Macron arrives to crucial Ukraine meeting in Paris
Tuesday 11 March 2025 17:13
,
Barney Davis
French President Emmanuel Macron arrives to attend a meeting with the chiefs of staff of the European Union and NATO armies on the future of Ukraine.
The get-together of military chiefs of staff from 30 European and NATO nations -- including Britain and Turkey -- is "important," said Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, adding that it would aim to lay the foundation for any possible security guarantees for Ukraine.
"It is simply a question of looking ahead and thinking about what the Ukrainian army should be in the future," Lecornu said ahead of the talks.
"We will reject any form of demilitarisation of Ukraine," he added.
Ukraine strikes oil refinery near Moscow
Tuesday 11 March 2025 17:01
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine’s military has struck an oil refinery near Moscow, it said on Tuesday.
It also struck a facility in Russia's Oryol region that is part of the Druzhba pipeline system exporting oil to Europe, the military added.
"Explosions were...recorded in the area of the Steel Horse linear production dispatch station (Oryol region, Russia), which manages technological processes for the Druzhba oil pipeline," Kyiv's General Staff said in a statement.
The facility was "an important component in supplying oil to the terminal of the Ust-Luga seaport in the Leningrad region", it added.
Russian officials said on Tuesday that Ukraine had launched its biggest ever drone attack on Moscow, killing at least three people and causing a short shutdown at the Russian capital's four airports.
Hungary imports most of its crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian crude through Belarus and Ukraine to Hungary and Slovakia.
Watch: Sen. Mark Kelly fires back at Elon Musk's 'traitor' comments for Ukraine visit
Tuesday 11 March 2025 16:59
,
Alex Croft
Five killed in Ukrainian strike in Russia's Kursk region, regional governor says
Tuesday 11 March 2025 16:41
,
Alex Croft
Five people were killed in a Ukrainian strike on a shopping centre in Russia’s Kursk region, the local governor said on Tuesday.
This is an increase from the death toll of three announced earlier by governor Alexander Khinshtein.
Russia said on Tuesday that its troops had made major gains in the western Kursk region, accelerating their attempt to drive out Ukrainian forces who have clung onto a slice of Russian territory since August.
US and Ukraine hold crunch talks about how to end Putin’s invasion in Saudi Arabia
Tuesday 11 March 2025 16:29
,
Tom Watling
How low must Donald Trump sink before adoring Tories call him out?
Tuesday 11 March 2025 16:00
,
Tom Watling
Lithuanians celebrate independence from Soviet Union with Ukraine flags
Tuesday 11 March 2025 15:41
Lithuania is celebrating its 35th anniversary of independence from the Soviet Union today.
People cheering in the streets of the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, have been seen carrying a huge Ukrainian flag next to their country’s flag in solidarity.
Lithuania is one of Ukraine’s most prolific supporters if you measure the volume of military, financial and humanitarian aid against its GDP.
US, British commanders show unity after Trump uncertainties
Tuesday 11 March 2025 15:25
,
Tom Watling
US and British commanders have said that joint military exercises are vital for providing Europe with a deterrent to Russia, a show of unity after president Donald Trump's overtures to Moscow raised doubt about Washington's commitment to Nato.
Air Marshall Johnny Stringer, the British officer serving as Nato's deputy air commander, and US Eighth Air Force Commander Major General Jason Armagost joined forces to praise the Bomber Task Force, which had completed nine missions in Europe since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Both were clear they both believed the cooperation between the United States and Europe only strengthened security.
“Like all alliances and all relationships over time they have their kind of their ups and their downs but I think a Nato that ... is practising complex but essential deterrence missions across Europe kind of tells its story here on how serious and resolute we are as an alliance,” Stringer said in front of a US B-52H bomber at an airfield in southwestern England where most of the missions had started.
The two commanders said so far there was no prospect of joint military exercises ending soon.
Stringer said there was “a standing plan” to keep missions going in what he described as “vital messaging” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “And as I said they are essential for our own training and to make sure we are, heaven forbid, ready to go (to war) if necessary,” he added.
A lot of questions are being discussed, says senior Ukraine official
Tuesday 11 March 2025 15:13
,
Tom Watling
We have more details from the talks between Ukraine and the US in Saudi Arabia.
A senior Ukrainian official told AFP that the talks are going “okay” and that “a lot of questions have been discussed”.
First round of US-Ukraine talks focused on minerals deal and ceasefire proposal
Tuesday 11 March 2025 15:00
,
Tom Watling
Ukrainian media is reporting that the first round of talks between Ukraine and the US this morning focused on Kyiv’s proposal for a sea and air truce with Russia, and the minerals deal that was shelved after a spat between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.
How did Ukraine’s ‘unprecedented’ drone attack manage to break through Moscow’s defences?
Tuesday 11 March 2025 14:58
,
Tom Watling
Polish PM tells Ukraine and US peace teams: Don't waste this chance
Tuesday 11 March 2025 14:40
,
Tom Watling
Polish prime minister Donald Tusk has urged Ukraine and the US peace teams in talks in Saudi Arabia not to “waste this chance”.
“Dear Americans, dear Ukrainians, don’t waste this chance. The whole world is watching you in Jeddah today. Good luck!” he wrote on X.
The last time the two sides met, US president Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance berated Volodymyr Zelensky for not being grateful enough for American support.
Dear Americans, dear Ukrainians, don’t waste this chance. The whole world is watching you in Jeddah today. Good luck!
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) March 11, 2025
Yermak posts handshake emoji
Tuesday 11 March 2025 14:28
,
Tom Watling
Andriy Yermak, the man leading Ukraine’s peace delegation in Saudi Arabia, has just posted a handshake emoji on social media.
Could this mean that Ukraine and the US have signed a critical minerals deal that was shelved after a clash between US president Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky last month?
We’ll bring you more when we know.
Ukraine in 'extremely bad' position in Russia's Kursk region
Tuesday 11 March 2025 14:21
,
Tom Watling
The situation in the Russian border region of Kursk is “extremely bad”, war trackers have said, as Moscow’s troops launch a counteroffensive in the area.
In the past week, a rapid Russian assault has reduced Ukraine’s partial hold of the region by roughly half and threatened to encircle the troops remaining there.
Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst tracking developments on the frontline for The Black Bird Group, tells me this is a “significant victory” for Russia.
“It is extremely bad. This can be considered a significant Russian victory, as they were able to relatively quickly drive the Ukrainians out of most of the salient quickly,” he says.
He adds that the Ukrainians appear to have been caught off guard as their supply lines came under threat.
For Ukraine, this is more than just losing ground to Russia.
Kyiv had hoped to use its partial hold of Kursk as a key bargaining chip to trade land with Russia for Ukrainian-occupied territory.
That key bargaining chip could soon be wrested away from them.
Below, you can see the speed with which Russia is regaining territory. It covers changes from 7 March to 9 March.
The temporal correlation between the suspension of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine and the start of Russia's collapse of the Ukrainian Kursk salient is noteworthy https://t.co/DHMCGVXOvI pic.twitter.com/txNwyELQgx
— George Barros (@georgewbarros) March 10, 2025
US-Ukraine talks resume
Tuesday 11 March 2025 14:07
,
Tom Watling
Talks between Ukraine and the US being held in Saudi Arabia have resumed after a lunch break.
The group broke for lunch around 12.35 pm GMT, having begun talks at around 9.15 am GMT.
Former MI6 chief: Putin has one plan to get everything he wants from Trump
Tuesday 11 March 2025 14:00
Mapped: Russia's advance in eastern Ukraine
Tuesday 11 March 2025 13:44
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine says talks with US are progressing
Tuesday 11 March 2025 13:44
,
Tom Watling
Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky’s office and the lead for Ukraine’s peace delegation, says they are making “progress” during talks with the US in Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump’s national security adviser told reporters during a lunch break that they were “getting there”.
Fresh outrage as Musk brands senator a ‘traitor’ for visiting Ukraine
Tuesday 11 March 2025 13:29
,
Tom Watling
How will a coalition of the willing work, exactly?
Tuesday 11 March 2025 13:14
,
Tom Watling
Witkoff's new job: working 'magic' between Russia and Ukraine
Tuesday 11 March 2025 12:59
,
Bel Trew
Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has a vital role this week, as our chief international correspondent Bel Trew writes in an analysis:
It seems Mr Witkoff is now being entrusted by the Trump administration with working that “magic” for Russia and Ukraine.
But Mr Putin’s invasion of Ukraine – and America’s apparent intentions for a ceasefire there – are so completely different to the devastating bombardment of Gaza that comparisons are unhelpful and reductive. So is the timeline.
Ukrainian officials and civilians, meanwhile, tell me they fear being forced by the US to permanently cede land in exchange for what would only be a temporary pause, during which Moscow would not only regroup and rearm before launching another invasion but also would change the demographics in occupied territory to create a new de facto reality.
A recent study by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) found that 87 per cent of Ukrainians believe Russia has every intention of resuming fighting down the line.
No one knows what Mr Witkoff’s exact remit is for this reported Moscow meet, or even if it will for sure go ahead. But the indication is Mr Trump has earmarked him as the get-the-job man and the main channel of communication with Mr Putin because the US president wants a deal, no matter the cost, fast.
JD Vance’s cousin is fighting on Ukrainian frontlines - this is what he thinks of Trump, the VP and Putin
Tuesday 11 March 2025 12:15
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Tom Watling
