In a significant diplomatic development, the United States and Ukraine jointly announced that Kyiv has agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing conflict with Russia.

This decision was made during discussions between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which lasted over eight hours.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the proposal would now be conveyed to the Russian side, expressing hope that they would agree to peace negotiations.

"The ball is now in their court," he remarked.

National Security Advisor Mike Waltz confirmed that he would be in touch with his Russian counterpart regarding the ceasefire.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, who was present in Saudi Arabia but did not participate in the talks, described the ceasefire as a "positive proposal." He clarified that the ceasefire would encompass the entire front line of the conflict, rather than being limited to aerial and maritime engagements.

Additionally, the U.S. and Ukraine reached an agreement to expedite a comprehensive deal aimed at the development of Ukraine's vital mineral resources.

This agreement has been in preparation for several weeks but had recently become uncertain following a tense meeting between President Donald Trump and President Zelensky at the White House last week.

Zelensky confirmed that both countries would focus on finalizing the minerals agreement.

Furthermore, senior aides to Zelensky indicated that the options concerning security guarantees for Ukraine were discussed with U.S. officials, although specifics were not disclosed.

The United States also plans to resume intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, further solidifying the partnership between the two nations amidst the ongoing conflict.