UK government sources claimed that the United Kingdom was “intimately involved” in assisting Ukraine and the United States in reaching an agreement regarding a proposed ceasefire with Russia.
After discussions in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his willingness to accept a 30-day ceasefire that is effective immediately. However, he has also stated that the United States is responsible for persuading Russia to comply.
The BBC has been informed that a European initiative, spearheaded by Sir Keir Starmer, has been underway for the past week to restore positive relations between the United States and Ukraine.
Sir Keir praised the “remarkable breakthrough” as an “important moment for peace in Ukraine.”
After the announcement, the Trump administration announced that it would resume military aid to Ukraine and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, which had been abruptly suspended following the disagreement between Donald Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office.
According to UK sources, Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser to the prime minister, collaborated with his US counterpart, Mike Waltz, and German and French officials last week to develop a strategy for a ceasefire and the subsequent actions.
Powell travelled to Kyiv over the weekend to meet with Zelensky and assist in the creation of a written proposal. The proposal included a temporary cessation of hostilities, followed by confidence-building measures such as the exchange of prisoners of war, the return of Ukrainian children whom Russia abducted, and the release of civilians.
The Ukrainians and the Americans mutually consented to that proposal, which established the conditions for the events that transpired in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Sir Keir extended his congratulations to the White House and Ukrainian officials on their agreement in Saudi Arabia, stating that “we now all need to redouble our efforts” to achieve a peace settlement for Ukraine.
He stated, “The ball is now in the court of Russia, as both the American and Ukrainian delegations have stated.” Russia is now required to consent to a ceasefire and the cessation of hostilities.
Trump informed reporters that US officials would engage in a discussion with Moscow regarding the agreement either late on Tuesday or Wednesday in order to “get this show on the road.”
When questioned about the 30-day ceasefire proposal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded, “Let us not overestimate the situation.”
He stated at a daily press briefing that Russia was “carefully examining the statements made after the meeting” and that the Kremlin needed to be informed by the US about the conclusion of US-Ukrainian talks in Saudi Arabia before commenting on whether a proposed ceasefire was acceptable to Russia.
Peskov did not exclude the possibility of a telephone conversation between Vladimir Putin and Trump.
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