Jimmy Rushton: Foreign Policy Analyst on Ukraine agreeing to the 30 day ceasefire proposal

The US is immediately lifting its pause on military aid and intelligence-sharing to Ukraine.  

It follows several hours of discussions between officials from Washington and Kyiv in Saudi Arabia this morning.  

Ukraine's backing the United States' 30-day ceasefire proposal – contingent on Russia's agreement. 

Russia's not at the talks. 

Kyiv-based foreign policy analyst Jimmy Rushton told Mike Hosking this is a major win for the Ukrainian government.

He says the Ukrainians are doing everything they can to demonstrate they're ready to end the war that's cost hundreds of thousands of lives.  

Military officials from over 30 nations will also meet in Paris for talks later today.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Yeah, So where are we at with the war and
peace talks? This is in reaired and Saudi Arabia. I'm
in and Kiev. Jimmy, Russians back. Well, there's Jimmy morning.

Speaker 2 (00:07):
Hi, good morning.

Speaker 1 (00:08):
We got a deal.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Well, we seem to have a significant progress, yes, in
the last few minutes. This is very much breaking news,
so a lot of details are still emerging, but both
sides have released a joint statement which says that security
assistance to Ukraine American security since Ukraine and intelligence sharing
will be restored, so weapons and American intelligence will now

(00:31):
be shared again with the Ukrainians. There was a pause
on that. There's also going to be a proposed thirty
day ceasefire, which is obviously contingent on the Russians agreeing.
But this is significant development for the Ukrainian government. It's
a major win because obviously they're going to have American
weapons slowing back into the country now.

Speaker 1 (00:52):
So this seems to have got sorted out really quickly.
Did they predetermine a lot of this turn up in
Saudi Arabia and basically pulllypins out and sign it.

Speaker 2 (01:01):
So essentially we know that Zelensky had sent a letter
to Trump apologizing for, you know, the confrontation in the
White House. I think he was very gracious in that apology, because,
to be honest, I don't think he had that much
to apologize for, to be honest. But anyway, he kind
of fell on his sword a little bit, and you know,
was the bigger man. He sent that letter, and then

(01:23):
there was a high level delegation the US Sector of
State and they managed to hash it out. I think
the Ukrainians are doing everything they can to demonstrate that
they are ready for peace, that they are ready to,
you know, end this war which has lasted for three
years now and has cost hundreds of thousands of lives.

Speaker 1 (01:39):
We've got half the equation, though the Russians, seemingly from
Levrov particularly, appear to be conceding nothing. What happens there, well,
that's the big question.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
So obviously the Americans have tried to pressure Ukraine to
come to terms, and they've succeeded in their way. But
we're waiting to see what pressure they will attempt to
put on the Russians, if any, in order to get
them to agree as well, because obviously you can only
have a ceasefire if both sides agrees, and now the
ball is very much in Moscow's court.

Speaker 1 (02:11):
Yeah, exactly, Jimmy, good to catch up with you. We'll
talk again soon. Jimmy Russian who's in Kieve. He is
Marco and Saudi Arabia lot.

Speaker 3 (02:17):
Today we've made an offer that the Ukrainians have accepted,
which is to enter into a ceasefire 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. I want to personally
think we both want to thank the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia's majesty for hosting us, for making this possible. They've

(02:38):
been instrumental in this process and we're very grateful to
them for hosting us here today.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
And so there we go. That sounds positive. Balls in
the Russians court, and that's going to be a sticky one,
as my strong suspicions. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast,
listen live to news Talks. It'd be from six am weekdays,
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