Ukraine may agree to a partial ceasefire with Russia to resume intelligence sharing and US military assistance, including a halt to drone and long-range missile strikes, as well as hostilities in the Black Sea.
This information was reported by the Financial Times (FT), citing sources familiar with the negotiations.
Negotiations between Ukrainian and American delegations are scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia on March 11.
According to the publication, Kyiv will present the United States with an option for a partial ceasefire. Earlier, US President Donald Trump said, “We almost did it” when discussing the possibility of resuming intelligence sharing with Ukraine, adding that in order to resume aid, Ukraine must show a desire for peace.
An unnamed Ukrainian official told FT that Kyiv is now prioritizing the repair of its relations with the United States. Two European officials noted that Kyiv sees progress in ceasefire talks with Russia as an equal exchange for the restoration of military and intelligence assistance from the US.
For its part, the United States may use the negotiations to assess whether Kyiv is willing to make concessions to Moscow. US officials told Reuters, “You can’t say ‘I want peace’ and ‘I refuse to compromise.’ We want to see whether Ukrainians are interested not just in peace, but in real peace. If they are only interested in the borders of 2014 or 2022, that says something.”
The American delegation will also assess Ukraine’s determination to improve relations with the US following the dispute between Trump and Zelensky in the White House.
The Stakes of Negotiations
If the talks fail, the US could impose terms on Ukraine “as they and Russia decide,” and Kyiv may lose the opportunity to improve relations with the United States, Ukrainian officials told The Economist. The current US strategy is to determine how far Ukraine is willing to go beyond its own “red lines” during the peace talks.
President Trump, ahead of the talks in Saudi Arabia, expressed hopes for “significant progress” and mentioned that the US has “almost” resumed intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Background on the Suspension of US Aid
On March 5, the US halted all intelligence sharing with Ukraine and suspended military aid that was en route. A Trump adviser indicated that the US would resume deliveries once Ukraine and Russia set a date for peace talks.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that Ukraine is already working on alternatives. In particular, intelligence data could be provided by other allied countries.
The issue is expected to be discussed during the American-Ukrainian delegation meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 11. The US delegation will be led by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, White House Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.
Ukraine will be represented by Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak, Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Andriy Sybiha, Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov, and Deputy Head of the Office of the President Pavlo Palisa.
