United States Lifts Halt On Intelligence and Military Aid To Ukraine
The United States has lifted its halt on the supply of intelligence and military aid to Ukraine with immediate effect, in exchange for the Ukrainian government’s commitment to a 30 day ceasefire should Russia agree to a ceasefire as well.
The announcement was made following negotiations between American and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia, with National Security Advisor Mike Waltz saying the “positive step forward” from the talks resulted in an agreement to resume American intelligence and military aid, “effective immediately”, with shipments planned to be made under the current presidential drawdown authority to resume.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a joint press conference with Waltz, in Jeddah, that “the ball is now in (Russia’s) court” for a ceasefire to be reached. Rubio would not provide a deadline for Russia to agree to the ceasefire when asked by reporters, but hoped “the Russians will answer yes as quickly as possible” so a second phase of negotiations to ensure “the stability and security of Ukraine for the long term” could begin.
Rubio also insisted that the ceasefire negotiations were not related to the “minerals deal” sought by the Trump administration, which would have traded access to Ukrainian natural resources for security guarantees. A failed attempt to pressure Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky into signing the deal during a February 28, White House visit was soon followed by announcements that the United States was cutting off military aid and then intelligence to Ukraine.
In a statement posted on his official social media pages, Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelensky said Ukrainian negotiators had proposed:
“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 negotiators, Zelensky said, sought an “even bigger first step” with “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.” Zelensky noted that:
“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.”
This article will be updated as the situation develops.