In a surprise move, the United States and Ukraine announced a major breakthrough in peace talks on Tuesday, with both sides expressing a commitment to ending the conflict that has been ongoing for months.
The announcement came after a meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which was attended by senior officials from both countries. The two leaders agreed to a ceasefire, with the Ukrainians expressing a willingness to stop fighting in order to negotiate a peace deal.
“This is a major step forward,” said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who attended the meeting. “We’re committed to helping Ukraine achieve its goal of peace and security.”
The announcement was met with relief from diplomats and officials around the world, who had been hoping for a breakthrough in the conflict.
“The President’s leadership on this issue has been instrumental in bringing us to this point,” said National Security Adviser John Bolton. “We’re committed to working with Ukraine to achieve a peaceful resolution to this conflict.”
The meeting was also attended by Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, who confirmed that security assistance would be resumed for the Ukrainians.
“We’re committed to helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression,” Esper said. “We’ll be providing them with the necessary equipment and support to do so.”
The meeting was seen as a major victory for President Trump, who has been criticized for his handling of the crisis in Ukraine. The announcement was met with praise from lawmakers and officials on both sides of the aisle.
“Today’s announcement is a major win for peace and security,” said Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware. “I’m proud to have worked with President Trump and our Ukrainian partners to bring this about.”
The meeting also highlighted the ongoing efforts by the US and Ukraine to strengthen their relationship.
“We’re committed to working with Ukraine on a range of issues, including security, trade, and economic development,” said Pompeo.
The announcement came as tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high. The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014, when Russian-backed separatists launched an insurgency against the Ukrainian government.
Since then, hundreds of people have been killed and thousands more injured in the conflict. The US has imposed sanctions on Russia for its role in the conflict, while also providing military aid to Ukraine.
The announcement by Trump and Zelenskyy is seen as a major step forward in the effort to bring peace to the region.
“We’re committed to working with Ukraine to achieve a peaceful resolution to this conflict,” said Bolton. “We’ll do everything we can to support them in their efforts.”
The meeting was also attended by other senior officials from both countries, including US Ambassador to Russia Kelly Craft and Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Andriy Yermak.
In a statement released after the meeting, Trump expressed his commitment to bringing peace to Ukraine.
“We’re committed to helping Ukraine achieve its goal of peace and security,” he said. “We’ll do everything we can to support them in their efforts.”
The announcement was also met with praise from lawmakers and officials on both sides of the aisle.
“Today’s announcement is a major win for peace and security,” said Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware. “I’m proud to have worked with President Trump and our Ukrainian partners to bring this about.”
The meeting highlighted the ongoing efforts by the US and Ukraine to strengthen their relationship.
“We’re committed to working with Ukraine on a range of issues, including security, trade, and economic development,” said Pompeo.
The announcement came as tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high. The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014, when Russian-backed separatists launched an insurgency against the Ukrainian government.
Since then, hundreds of people have been killed and thousands more injured in the conflict. The US has imposed sanctions on Russia for its role in the conflict, while also providing military aid to Ukraine.
The announcement by Trump and Zelenskyy is seen as a major step forward in the effort to bring peace to the region.
“We’re committed to working with Ukraine to achieve a peaceful resolution to this conflict,” said Bolton. “We’ll do everything we can to support them in their efforts.”