Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Ukraine has accepted a U.S. proposal for a ceasefire with Russia that may take impact if the Kremlin agrees.
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
Ukraine has accepted a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire. Now, this may go into impact instantly if Russia agrees. Here is U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
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MARCO RUBIO: Immediately, we made a suggestion that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter right into a ceasefire and into rapid negotiations to finish this battle in a manner that is enduring and sustainable and accounts for his or her pursuits, their safety, their capacity to prosper as a nation.
KELLY: Rubio was in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia at present the place American and Ukrainian delegations hammered out the short-term ceasefire. In return, the U.S. has lifted a freeze on navy help and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine. This breakthrough follows, maybe, the worst two weeks in Ukraine’s relationship with the U.S., its strongest ally. Becoming a member of us to speak by all that is NPR’s Joanna Kakissis in Kyiv. Hello, Joanna.
JOANNA KAKISSIS, BYLINE: Hey, Mary Louise.
KELLY: Inform me extra about this settlement. How would it not work? What would it not imply?
KAKISSIS: Properly, Mary Louise, it’s a tangible step to ending this all-out conflict that Russia began greater than three years in the past. Ukraine had proposed halting long-range missile strikes and sea strikes as a present of goodwill and on the situation that Russia reciprocate. The proposal that the Ukrainians agreed to at present covers not solely the sky and the Black Sea, however the whole frontline. Here is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talking tonight in a video deal with.
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PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: (Non-English language spoken).
KAKISSIS: Zelenskyy is saying, “we’re able to take the step. If the Russians agree, the ceasefire will work at that second.”
KELLY: At that second. OK, to this different improvement I discussed – the U.S. now saying it’ll restore the provision of navy help, additionally of intelligence to Ukraine – does that sign that relations are again on observe or near getting again on observe between Kyiv and Washington?
KAKISSIS: Properly, Mary Louise, a reporter requested Rubio this in Jeddah, and this was his response.
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RUBIO: This isn’t “Imply Ladies.” This isn’t some episode of some tv present. That is very severe. Individuals are going to – at present, folks will die on this conflict. They died yesterday, and sadly, until there is a ceasefire tonight, they’re going to die tomorrow.
KAKISSIS: As for Zelenskyy, he mentioned in his video deal with that Ukraine has all the time needed peace from the very first second Russia invaded the nation. And he added that the U.S. now understands Ukraine’s arguments for peace. Zelenskyy thanked President Trump, Congress, the American folks for his or her assist – one thing he typically does. This should be a reduction for him after two weeks of absolute rigidity with the Trump administration. I am certain you recall that a few weeks in the past Zelenskyy had a disastrous go to with Trump within the Oval Workplace that ended with Trump and Vice President JD Vance berating Zelenskyy on digicam. And after that, the White Home reduce off navy help and intelligence-sharing.
KELLY: Yeah. So to the wildcard now, whether or not Russia will get on board – as a result of you need to have Russia on board for this 30-day ceasefire to work – how doubtless is that, Joanna?
KAKISSIS: Properly, the Kremlin hasn’t mentioned something but, and Russia didn’t have representatives on the talks in Jeddah. Each Rubio and Zelenskyy have mentioned that the ball is now in Russia’s court docket. Russia might not be in a negotiating temper. It blamed Ukraine at present for a large drone strike on Moscow and different components of Russia. There are stories that Trump Envoy Steve Witkoff would possibly go to Russia quickly to fulfill with Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly to speak about subsequent steps.
KELLY: Properly, say Russia does agree. Say a ceasefire does kick in. That might carry expectations, hope for a long-lasting peace deal, however how far aside are the 2 sides?
KAKISSIS: Properly, Russia has stopped – has not stopped demanding a number of concessions from Ukraine, like giving up its occupied territory – even territory that is not held by the Russians – giving up on becoming a member of NATO, downsizing the navy. Ukraine does not need any of this proper now, and it doesn’t belief Russia to honor the phrases of a ceasefire. So quite a lot of work nonetheless needs to be accomplished to carry a sturdy peace deal.
KELLY: Reporting tonight from our Joanna Kakissis in Kyiv. Thanks.
KAKISSIS: You are welcome.
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