Russian sources have reacted warily to a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire supported by Ukraine, saying that any deal to end to the war in Ukraine would have to take into account the Russian advances and address its concerns.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, said it was waiting for the US to inform it about the details of a proposed ceasefire in Ukraine that Ukraine agreed to after talks in Saudi Arabia.
"We assume that Secretary of State (Marco) Rubio and Adviser (Michael) Walz through various channels in the coming days will inform us on the negotiations that took place and the understandings reached," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding Russia did not rule out a "high-level" phone call with the US.
Meanwhile, Mr Rubio stopped off in Shannon Airport this morning just hours after the Ukraine peace talks in Saudia Arabia.
Speaking to reporters, he said the United States will have contact with Russia today about the agreement reached with Ukraine and steps towards ending the war there.
He added that European allies will need to be involved in any eventual deal on Ukraine, saying: "I think that they have to be necessarily involved."
Mr Rubio also noted that Russia would seek removal of European sanctions imposed on it since the start of the war.
Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine has left hundreds of thousands of dead and injured, displaced millions of people and triggered the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
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A senior Russian source said that President Vladimir Putin would find it difficult to agree to the ceasefire idea without hashing out terms and getting some sort of guarantees.
"It is difficult for Putin to agree to this in its current form," the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, said.
"Putin has a strong position because Russia is advancing."
The source said that without guarantees alongside a ceasefire, Russia's position could swiftly become weaker and that Russia could then be blamed by the West for failing to end the war.
Another senior Russian source said that the ceasefire proposal looked from Russia's perspective to be a trap because Mr Putin would find it hard to halt the war without some concrete guarantees or pledges.
A third Russian source said the big picture was that the United States had agreed to resume military aid and intelligence sharing and had decorated that move with a ceasefire proposal.
US President Donald Trump has reversed previous US policy on Russia, opening up bilateral talks with Moscow and suspending military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, saying it must agree to terms to end the war.
The United States agreed yesterday to resume military aid and intelligence sharing after Kyiv said it was ready to support a ceasefire proposal.
This morning in Warsaw, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski confirmed that deliveries of US armoured vehicles from the Jasionka logistics hub in southeastern Poland had "returned to their previous level".
Mr Sikorski was speaking alongside Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha who had taken part in talks with US officials in Jeddah yesterday.
Mr Sybiha described yesterday's talks as "very important historical meetings".
"Ukraine has approved the proposal of a temporary truce for 30 days. Now the American side will speak to the Russian side on this matter. Ukraine is the country that wants an end to this war," added Mr Sybiha.
He said that Ukrainian negotiators were workings towards "a just and comprehensive peace".
Taoiseach praises Trump for 'unrelenting' focus on peace
Taoiseach Micheál Martin has welcomed a deal struck between the United States and Ukraine on a ceasefire proposal.
Speaking in Washington ahead of his meeting with President Donald Trump later today, the Taoiseach said the proposed 30-day ceasefire for peace negotiations was very welcome news.
The Ukraine war is one of the topics expected to be covered during the meeting in the Oval Office.
Mr Martin praised the US leader for what he called his unrelenting focus on peace in both Ukraine and the Middle East.
He said the news from the talks in Saudi Arabia adds momentum towards a ceasefire, and hopefully a lasting and fair peace for Ukraine.
Last night, the Taoiseach said: "It's very welcome news, and I think it increases the momentum towards a ceasefire and ultimately, hopefully, towards a lasting and fair peace. There were substantive discussions between Ukraine and the United States.
"The enormity of this war cannot be understated. Hundreds and hundreds of thousands of young people have been killed," he added.
"It's had a devastating impact on the people of Ukraine, on the civilian infrastructure. And from all of our perspectives, I think we all desire a fair and a lasting peace, and hopefully this is the beginning of a momentum towards that now. And we will see the response from Russia," he said.
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Mr Martin also praised Mr Trump on his "unrelenting" focus on peace, both in the Ukraine and the Middle East.
"There's never an ideal moment to launch a peace initiative, and I would pay tribute to President Trump for his unrelenting focus on peace, both in Ukraine and in the Middle East.
"And there's still a journey to travel, but I think momentum is clearly picking up now as a result of the outcome of the talks ... and hopefully that can progress into more substantive discussions," Mr Martin said.
The Taoiseach said that he awaits Russia's response to what he called a "positive initiative" in peace talks.
"The continuation of the war will only lead to more death and destruction. Therefore, we need peace. In my view, it has to be fair, it has to be lasting," he added.
World leaders welcome deal between US and Ukraine
Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed Ukraine's backing for the ceasefire plan, saying the decision on the next steps now rested with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"The idea of a 30-day ceasefire is an important and correct step towards a just peace for Ukraine... Now it's up to Putin," Mr Scholz said on social media platform X.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the "Americans and Ukrainians have taken an important step towards peace".
"And Europe stands ready to help reach a just and lasting peace," Mr Tusk added in a post on X.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine is positive news.
China said it hoped for "a sustainable and lasting peace" after Ukraine backed the proposal.
Asked about the talks at a regular news conference, foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said China had "noted relevant reports", and it hoped "all parties, through dialogue and negotiation, will find a sustainable and lasting peace plan that considers one another's concerns".
European shares, meanwhile, jumped after Ukraine accepted the US proposal.
Additional reporting Sean Whelan, Liam Nolan
