Donald Trump will invite Volodymyr Zelensky back to the White House after America and Ukraine agreed to an immediate 30-day ceasefire deal that is contingent on Russia also accepting, according to reports.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the deal was reached after hours negotiations between American and Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“Today, we made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted, which is to enter into a cease-fire and into immediate negotiations to end this conflict in a way that’s enduring and sustainable and accounts for their interests, their security, their ability to prosper as a nation,” Donald Trump’s top foreign affairs official said, per NBC News.
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“And hopefully we’ll take this offer now to the Russians, and we hope that they’ll say yes, that they’ll say yes to peace,” Rubio added. “The ball is now in their court.”
In a joint statement from Trump and Zelensky, both countries agreed to conclude “as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources.”
“Now, it is up to the United States to convince Russia to do the same,” Zelensky said in a separate statement on X. “If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately.”
He added that the deal was for “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 also offered his gratitude to Trump for the “constructive conversation between our teams.”
Trump told reporters at the White House that he hoped Russia would accept the deal and that he was open to inviting Zelensky back to the White House, according to Axios.
In the weeks leading up to this deal’s announcement, Trump has repeatedly accused Zelensky of not wanting to broker peace in the three-year war, even referring to the democratically elected leader as a “dictator.”
The tensions dramatically boiled over in a televised Oval Office meeting late last month that saw Trump and JD Vance shout at Zelensky as they accused him of not being grateful enough for U.S. assistance.
The conversation, which had been amicable, took a turn after Zelensky said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had not respected past ceasefire deals with Ukraine.
In a Truth Social post following the conversation, Trump wrote, “We had a very meaningful meeting in the White House today. Much was learned that could never be understood without conversation under such fire and pressure.”
“I want PEACE,” Trump wrote. “He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace.”
Trump added that he has determined Zelensky “is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”
After initially saying he had nothing to apologize for, Zelensky later sent Trump a warm statement praising the American’s “strong leadership.” At his address to Congress, Trump beamed as he said he appreciated the letter.
Trump issued a rare warning to Putin last week, saying that he was “strongly considering” issuing sanctions on Russia if it did not reach a peace deal with Ukraine.
Last month, White House officials held high-level peace talks with Russian officials, but iced out Ukraine.
While Trump has previously maintained that Putin—with whom critics have accused the American of having too cozy a relationship—is ready for peace, it appears that Ukraine has called the bluff.
