Ukraine secures key gains with ceasefire deal but war remains unresolved

Ukraine’s acceptance of a U.S. ceasefire proposal has salvaged its strained ties with Washington, securing the resumption of military aid and intelligence sharing. However, fundamental issues in the conflict with Russia remain unresolved.

After more than eight hours of talks in Jeddah, the U.S. agreed to take Ukraine’s ceasefire acceptance to Moscow, shifting pressure onto Russia. The deal marks the first significant step toward a peace process, though territorial disputes were left unaddressed.

The meeting followed last month’s tense Oval Office exchange between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump. Ukrainian officials said Washington initially proposed a broader ceasefire beyond Kyiv’s request for an air and sea truce. Kyiv agreed after consulting its leadership, leading to an immediate restoration of U.S. support.

"For us, it was very important to have the understanding that the truce would go along with two very important things: an immediate lifting of the pause of military assistance and intelligence sharing," Zelenskyy’s adviser Ihor Zhovkva told Reuters.

Despite the diplomatic breakthrough, analysts warn the war’s core issues remain unresolved. Former Ukrainian defence minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk cautioned that Russia’s demands for peace remain unclear and that the U.S. stance could evolve.

Experts fear the ceasefire could entrench Russian territorial gains. "A temporary truce risks cementing current front lines, making the conflict frozen rather than resolved," said Keir Giles of Chatham House.

The Kremlin said it was awaiting official details from Washington, while senior Moscow sources indicated any deal must account for Russia’s territorial advances and security concerns.

A source close to the Ukrainian government described the ceasefire proposal as a strategic move that may have caught Russia off guard. "It’s a strong check on the chessboard," the source said.

However, some Ukrainian officials expect Russia to derail the deal, with a former senior security official suggesting that if Moscow antagonises Trump, Kyiv could secure stronger U.S. military support.

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