Just weeks ago, international attention was fixated on a dramatic diplomatic confrontation in Washington, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky clashed with US President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in the Oval Office. The dispute, which led to the abrupt cancellation of a rare earth minerals deal, marked a low point in US-Ukraine relations and cast doubt on Zelensky’s commitment to pursuing peace with Russia. However, in a remarkable turnaround, intensive diplomatic efforts have revived discussions on ending the war, culminating in a high-stakes meeting in Jeddah that could signal the first real step toward peace.

Trump has consistently voiced his desire to end the war, but his return to the White House in January has made it clear that achieving peace is far more complex than campaign rhetoric suggests. The meeting in Jeddah was the first substantive step in that direction, highlighting a shift in Washington’s approach to Ukraine. One of Trump’s main grievances during the White House exchange was his skepticism over whether Zelensky genuinely sought peace. The Jeddah negotiations helped alleviate those concerns, resulting in a temporary 30-day ceasefire agreement-contingent on mutual compliance from Russia. Within days, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged the proposal but introduced conditions that cast doubt on its implementation.

In addition to the ceasefire discussions, the US and Ukraine finalized the minerals deal that had been abandoned during the Washington standoff. The economic significance of this agreement cannot be understated, as securing access to rare earth minerals is crucial for both US strategic interests and Ukraine’s economic stability. The rapid diplomatic........

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