Latest news Ukraine

Zelenskyy’s top aide warns Europe against ceasefire that enables Russia to rebuild forces amid US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah

The high-stakes negotiations in Jeddah come as Ukraine attempts to restore US military aid and intelligence sharing frozen by the Trump administration.

byOlena Mukhina

11/03/2025

2 minute read

Head of the Presidential Office, Andrii Yermak, on 11 March in Saudi Arabia. Credit: Andrii Yermak/social media

Zelenskyy’s top aide warns Europe against ceasefire that enables Russia to rebuild forces amid US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah

The establishment of lasting peace in Ukraine requires meeting a series of preconditions to prevent Russia from starting the war again, says Andrii Yermak, the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, The Guardian reports.

His words came amid the US-Ukraine peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. These negotiations have been called “historic” because the future of US aid for Kyiv and the resumption of intelligence data sharing will be decided during the meeting. The talks are also expected to create preconditions for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

Yermak says that with his arrival in Jeddah for negotiations, “the three-year war the Russian Federation has waged on my country has never seemed closer” for him.

He noted that recent discussions between Ukraine and its partners “have given rise to great hope” that the Ukrainian people will soon return to the peaceful life they had before the war began in 2014 and escalated dramatically in 2022.

“I believe that together with strong American leadership, we can reach this goal,” Yermak states.

He adds that while the Ukrainian people most desire an end to this war, peace must be just and lasting.

“A ceasefire in Ukraine will not come through diplomatic gestures alone. A number of conditions are crucial beforehand in order to ensure that peace – when it comes – is lasting. This includes putting political and financial pressure on Russia to raise the cost of renewed conflict,” Yermak emphasizes.

First, Ukraine must receive security guarantees that will instill confidence in a future ceasefire agreement.
Second, Europe must act decisively to strengthen and expand sanctions against Russia.
Third, Europe must take control of Russia’s frozen assets to ensure continuous and increased support for Ukraine.

“Europe cannot allow a ceasefire that serves only to allow Russia to rearm, rebuild its forces and come back for more Ukrainian lands and resources,” Yermak stresses.

He says that to avoid such a scenario, Europe must be economically and politically resilient.

“Europe must be prepared to act to deliver its own security, and Russia must understand the political and economic cost of using force to achieve its ends,” he concludes.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!

To suggest a correction or clarification, write to us here

You can also highlight the text and press Ctrl + Enter

We are an independent media outlet that relies solely on advertising revenue to sustain itself. We do not endorse or promote any products or services for financial gain. Therefore, we kindly ask for your support by disabling your ad blocker. Your assistance helps us continue providing quality content. Thank you!