Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Donald Trump has said he will speak to Vladimir Putin and has invited Volodymr Zelensky back to the Oval Office after Ukraine agreed to accept a US proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire .
Mr Zelensky has called on Russia to accept the deal, adding the ceasefire “will take effect immediately” if Mr Putin agrees.
The Trump administration also said it would immediately lift its intelligence sharing with Ukraine following “positive” talks in Saudi Arabia.
Asked whether Zelensky was invited back to the White House, Trump said: “Sure, absolutely”.
On the ceasefire deal, he added: “We just agreed to it a little while ago. Hopefully, president Putin can agree to it also and we can get this show on the road.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would now take the offer to the Russians, and that the ball is now in Moscow’s court.
Zelensky said his team proposed three key points: Silence in the skies—stopping missile strikes, bombs, and long-range drone attacks and silence at sea.
The release of prisoners of war and detainees—both military and civilian and the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia.
Ukraine agrees US proposal for immediate 30-day ceasefire
Ukraine has agreed to accept a US proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire and to take steps toward restoring a durable peace after Russia’s invasion, according to a joint US-Ukraine statement.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would now take the offer to the Russians, and that the ball is now in Moscow’s court.
The two sides, meeting in Saudi Arabia, also agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources, the statement said.
The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv, a week after imposing the measures to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.
Yermak says both US and Ukraine want ‘just peace’
The Ukrainian and U.S. delegations discussed all issues related to the process of ending the war, according to the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office Andriy Yermak.
“It was a very good, substantive, and meaningful conversation. We truly spoke as partners who have been together since the first day of Russia’s full-scale aggression. The main achievements of today’s meeting are, first of all, the immediate resumption of US assistance and intelligence sharing.
“We also discussed all the issues related to the process of ending the war with a just peace,” Yermak said.
He added that there was a frank exchange of views and key positions.
“What you see in the joint statement truly reflects our shared understanding: we are united in our vision of how to move toward the long-awaited just peace for Ukraine. And this is happening with the support of our main strategic partner — the United States.”
Barney Davis11 March 2025 23:58
Russia launches air attack on Ukraine capital Kyiv, mayor says
Russia launched an overnight air attack on Kyiv, with air defence forces engaged in repelling the strikes, Vitali Klitschko, mayor of the Ukrainian capital said on Wednesday.
Barney Davis11 March 2025 23:15
Von der Leyen: EU ready to join future peace talks
Ursula Von der Leyen has joined world leaders in saying the ball is now in Russia’s court after the agreement.
The President of the EU commission posted on X: “We welcome today’s news from Jeddah on the US-Ukraine talks, including the proposal for a ceasefire agreement and the resumption of US intelligence sharing and security assistance.
“This is a positive development that can be a step towards a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine. The ball is now in Russia’s court. The EU is ready to play its full part, together with its partners, in the upcoming peace negotiations.”
Barney Davis11 March 2025 21:51
Watch: Marco Rubio announces Ukraine has agreed to 30-day ceasefire
Barney Davis11 March 2025 21:30
‘We will know impediment to peace’ Rubio says if Russia refuses to accept ceasefire
Trump’s invite to Zelensky marked a sharp shift from only a week ago, when it imposed the measures to push the Ukrainian President to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the US delegation to the talks in Jeddah, said Washington would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin, which has thus far opposed anything short of a permanent end to the conflict without accepting any concessions.
“We’re going to tell them 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,” Rubio told reporters after the meeting. “If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.”
Barney Davis11 March 2025 21:04
In Pictures: Donald Trump pulls up outside White House in Tesla with Elon Musk to announce ceasefire agreement
Barney Davis11 March 2025 20:40
Four killed as Russian missile damages grain vessel in Ukraine’s port
A Russian missile attack on Tuesday damaged a grain vessel in the Black Sea port of Odesa, killing at least four people, Ukraine’s Sea Ports Authority said on Facebook but shortly after deleted the statement.
The statement identified the vessel as MJ Pinar and said it was loading wheat for export when the strike happened.
Barney Davis11 March 2025 20:30
Starmer welcomes 30-day ceasefire deal
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed a 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has agreed to and said it was now up to Russia to end the fighting.
“As both American and Ukrainian delegations have said, the ball is now in the Russian court,” Starmer said in a statement, congratulating both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump for the “remarkable breakthrough”.
Starmer said he would use a meeting of world leaders that Britain is convening on Saturday to discuss next steps.
“We are ready to help bring an end to this war in a just and permanent way that allows Ukraine to enjoy its freedom,” he said.
Barney Davis11 March 2025 20:17
Russia does not rule out contacts with US over next few days, foreign ministry says
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that it didn’t rule out contacts with the United States representatives over next several days, state news agency RIA reported, after Donald Trump said that there would be a US meeting with Russia later Tuesday or Wednesday.
Trump said that he hoped Russia would agree to a ceasefire plan drawn up by American and Ukrainian officials and that a total ceasefire could be achieved in the three-year war in the coming days.
He said he thought he would talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin about it this week.