**US Secretary of State Confirms Ukraine-US Talks in Saudi Arabia**
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on March 12 that talks between the US and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia included discussions about potential “territorial concessions” as part of a negotiated settlement with Russia.
The Trump administration has said that both Kyiv and Moscow will have to make compromises for a peace deal, calling Ukraine’s goal of restoring its pre-2014 borders “unrealistic”. Russian forces currently occupy around 20% of Ukraine, where reports of systematic repression, torture, and forced deportations emerge.
**Ceasefire Agreement**
Rubio also said that the talks in Saudi Arabia covered “what a negotiation process would look like” and reiterated that “there is no military solution to this conflict”. The US and Ukraine agreed on a temporary 30-day ceasefire proposal, provided Russia abides by it. Moscow has not officially declared its position on the proposal.
**US Resumes Military Aid**
The agreement led to the US resuming military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, which had been suspended after President Volodymyr Zelensky’s clash with Trump in the Oval Office.
**Casualties Mount**
Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least 14 civilians and injured at least 33 over the past day, regional authorities reported on March 12. The casualties included children and Syrian crew members of a merchant vessel in Odesa.
**International Support**
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the results of Ukraine’s talks with the US in Jeddah, reaffirming the EU’s support for Ukraine. Iceland will allocate over €2 million to Ukraine’s Energy Support Fund.
