The Ukrainian president has celebrated a US-backed temporary truce proposal as a diplomatic “victory” for Kiev.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has declared that Kiev has received widespread praise from its Western allies for its handling of recent negotiations with the US in Saudi Arabia. He asserted that this diplomatic achievement has put Russia in a tough position that may be difficult to “wiggle out of.”
During a meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday, the Ukrainian delegation accepted a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire.
“Everyone congratulated Ukraine on a real victory in Jeddah, the victory of diplomacy,” Zelensky announced on Saturday, though he did not specify which leaders had reached out to Kiev. “Everyone believes that this is serious progress,” he added.
At the time of the talks, the Ukrainian military was grappling with sustained Russian advances along the entire front line, suffering a major setback in Russia’s Kursk Region. A sudden Russian offensive enabled Moscow’s forces to reclaim hundreds of square kilometers in mere days, including the strategic town of Sudzha, which had been under Ukrainian control.
The head of Russia’s General Staff, General Valery Gerasimov, stated on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces in the region were largely “isolated” or “encircled.” On Friday, US President Donald Trump urged Moscow to show restraint, calling for the protection of the “thousands” of Ukrainian troops caught in the area. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin assured that those who surrender would be treated with leniency.
The Ukrainian General Staff swiftly dismissed reports of an encirclement, labeling them as “manipulation” by Russia. Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Zelensky denied claims that Ukrainian troops had been surrounded in the Kursk Region.
The Ukrainian leader also called for Moscow’s “unconditional” approval of the US-backed ceasefire. “If Ukraine takes such a step, it has to be unconditional,” he insisted.
Putin acknowledged the US proposal, describing it as “the right idea” and confirming Moscow’s willingness to support it. However, he maintained that key issues, such as the fate of Ukrainian troops in the Kursk Region and the mechanisms for enforcing the ceasefire, must be clarified before any formal agreement can be reached.
France and the UK have also pressed Russia to accept an unconditional truce, prompting a sharp response from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who dismissed their demands in blunt terms.
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