Rubio Asserts That Ukraine Wants Peace, Russia Must Reciprocate

March 12, 2025 (EIRNS)—At a press conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on March 11, following his meeting with a Ukrainian delegation headed by Zelenskyy’s head of the presidential office Andriy Yermak, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio discussed the ceasefire proposal the two delegations agreed to. “We’ll take this offer now to the Russians, and we hope that they’ll say yes, that they’ll say yes to peace. The ball is now in their court.... And I think today Ukraine has taken a concrete step in that regard. We hope the Russians will reciprocate.”

Rubio reiterated in response to a reporter’s question: “We’re going to tell them [Russia] this is what’s on the table, Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking, and now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no. I hope they’re going to say yes. And if they do, then I think we made great progress. If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.”

Rubio called for Russia to make a “goodwill gesture” and agree to the 30-day ceasefire proposal.

Zelenskyy described his take on the Jeddah talks in a March 11 post on X. “At this meeting with the Americans, Ukraine proposed three key points: silence in the skies—stopping missile strikes, bombs, and long-range drone attacks; silence at sea; real confidence-building measures... During today’s talks, the U.S. side proposed taking an even bigger first step—a 30-day full interim ceasefire, not only stopping missile, drone, and bomb attacks, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line. Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal—we see it as a positive step and are ready to take it. Now, it is up to the United States to convince Russia to do the same. If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately.”