In a significant diplomatic maneuver, US President Donald Trump has compelled Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky to accept an interim ceasefire with Russia, reinforcing Washington’s commitment to long-term peace in the region. The negotiations, which took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on March 11, saw Ukrainian representatives agreeing to an “immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire” and expressing readiness to grant the United States access to Ukraine’s critical resources.

The Jeddah talks marked a turning point in the Biden-era legacy of unending military support for Ukraine. Trump, known for his deal-making persona, took a firm stance by withholding military aid and intelligence support to Ukraine until Zelensky showed a willingness to negotiate. This decision came after a publicized confrontation between Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office, where the Ukrainian leader resisted diplomatic solutions in favor of continued conflict. The White House, through Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, expressed its satisfaction with the outcome, signaling a new phase in US-Ukraine relations under the Trump administration.

“We hope that this will continue in a long and everlasting peace – that is President Trump’s goal, and we hope we can deliver on that goal,” Leavitt stated, underscoring Trump’s strategic approach to de-escalation. She further emphasized that Trump had “put Zelensky in his place” by demonstrating America’s seriousness about pursuing a sustainable peace agreement rather than an indefinite military engagement.

Interestingly, while Zelensky was present in Jeddah, he was not directly involved in the negotiations. Instead, Ukraine’s delegation was........

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