A U.S-led deal to pause fighting between Ukraine and Russia for 30 days has been accepted by Ukraine, and is awaiting Russian approval.
Under the deal, the U.S. has agreed to restore military aid to Ukraine and revive intelligence-sharing arrangements, which had been cut off due to tensions between the country’s leaders.
Hours before the peace deal was announced, Ukraine carried out its largest drone strike on Russia’s capital, Moscow.
Background
Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022. UN data shows more than 12,500 civilians have been killed since then.
Since being sworn in as President in January, Donald Trump has engaged with Ukrainian and Russian leaders to strike a peace deal.
It follows comments made during the election campaign, when Trump said he would end the Russia-Ukraine war in “24 hours”.
Tensions between the U.S. and Ukraine recently escalated into a heated press conference in the White House between Trump, his Vice President JD Vance, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Trump accused Zelenskyy of “gambling with World War Three”.
Following the meeting, Trump suspended military aid to Ukraine — worth around $US65 billion ($AU103 billion) since the start of the war. The U.S. also stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine.
Ceasfire
U.S. and Ukrainian officials have held talks in Saudi Arabia over the past two days.
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In a joint statement on Wednesday, officials said both sides “took important steps toward restoring durable peace for Ukraine.”
The statement said the U.S. had proposed a 30-day pause in fighting, during which it would restore military aid and intelligence to Ukraine.
Ukraine said it had “expressed readiness” to accept the deal.
What now
Russia still needs to approve the deal.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that if the 30-day truce is approved: “The shooting will stop, the killing will stop, and talks will begin about how to end this war permanently”.
In referring to the lingering disputes between Trump and Zelenskyy, Rubio added: “This is not mean girls... this is very serious.”
Moscow strikes
Hours before the U.S. and Ukraine’s announcement, Ukrainian drones hit numerous locations across Russia, including the capital Moscow and the border Kursk region.
Local authorities report the strikes killed three people in Moscow.
Russia’s defence ministry said its anti-air systems downed more than 330 drones.
It’s Ukraine’s largest drone strike against Russia since the war began.
