The White House has stated that Washington is “very pleased” with the results of discussions with Kiev in Saudi Arabia, according to Karoline Leavitt.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that US President Donald Trump has firmly guided Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, emphasizing that Washington’s objective is a lasting peace between Moscow and Kiev.
During talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, American and Ukrainian delegations met on Tuesday, where Kiev reportedly agreed to a US-proposed “immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire” with Russia and expressed willingness to quickly sign a deal granting the US access to vital Ukrainian resources.
Reportedly, these concessions prompted Trump to release military aid and intelligence assistance to Kiev, which he had previously paused following a disagreement with Zelensky over the Ukrainian leader’s perceived reluctance to seek a diplomatic resolution to the conflict with Moscow.
Leavitt told Fox News after Tuesday’s talks that the White House was “very, very pleased with the way that the Ukrainians and this deal today turned out.”
She added, “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.”
The spokeswoman called Trump the “negotiator-in-chief,” stating that “he put Zelensky in his place and told him that the Americans are serious about a long-term peace deal.”
While Zelensky was present in Jeddah, he did not participate in the negotiations, and Trump did not travel to Saudi Arabia. The US delegation included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Andrey Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, led the Ukrainian delegation.
Leavitt noted that Trump “is obviously very engaged and involved. He was briefed throughout the day today on the situation unfolding in Saudi Arabia,”
When questioned about Russia’s response to the ceasefire agreement reached between Washington and Kiev in Jeddah, the spokeswoman responded: “I have not been updated on the progress. I know that Secretary of State Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz are working very hard on this.”
Moscow has consistently stated that it will not accept a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine, arguing that it would only benefit Kiev and its Western allies. Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in January that “the goal should not be a short truce, not some kind of respite for regrouping forces and rearmament with the aim of subsequently continuing the conflict, but a long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people, all nations living in this region.”