President Trump’s muscle paid off Tuesday as Ukraine folded, agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire after U.S. talks in Saudi Arabia. Their Foreign Affairs Ministry’s joint statement with the State Department said they’re “ready to accept the US proposal” for an “immediate, interim” truce—pending Russia’s nod.
This wasn’t Ukraine’s plan. Zelenskyy’s February 28 Oval Office clash with Trump and JD Vance—over minerals and peace—ended with him storming out, aid frozen, and intel cut. Trump’s team didn’t blink; conservatives say that smackdown broke Kyiv’s spine, forcing this kneel.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio laid it bare Monday in Jeddah. “The important point is to establish their intentions,” he told reporters, demanding Ukraine prove it’ll ditch territory for peace. By Tuesday, they did—signaling a minerals deal and Black Sea ceasefire too, per the Associated Press.
Trump’s leverage was brutal. His aid pause and banking sanction threats—after Ukraine’s 337-drone Moscow blitz Tuesday—left them reeling. Russia hit back with a missile and 126 drones, killing two at Miratorg and wounding 18, per Reuters. Conservatives cheer: Trump’s squeeze made Kyiv blink first.
The Jeddah crew was heavy—Andriy Yermak, Andrii Sybiha, Pavlo Palisa, Rustem Umerov for Ukraine; Rubio and Mike Waltz for the U.S. Rubio shrugged off minerals as “not the main topic”—peace was. “We’ll lift the pause on intelligence and aid immediately,” the joint statement promised, dangling carrots post-capitulation.
Russia’s watching, silent so far. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin called Ukraine’s drone wave their biggest yet—91 over his city, 126 in Kursk. Trump’s betting his stick—sanctions if Putin balks—will seal this. Conservatives say it’s genius: starve Ukraine, scare Russia, win peace.
Zelenskyy’s team flipped fast. After snubbing Trump’s push, they’re now open to prisoner swaps and child returns during the truce, per the statement. Republicans see this as Trump’s triumph—his 82 percent-approved March 4 speech set the stage; now Kyiv’s eating from his hand.
The shift’s seismic. Ukraine’s drone flex—337 downed—screamed defiance Monday, yet Tuesday they bowed. Conservatives tie it to Trump’s freeze; Biden’s endless checks never bent them like this. Rubio’s crew landed in Saudi Arabia Monday, and by Tuesday, Ukraine was on board.
America’s winning under Trump. His 89 executive orders in 50 days—tariffs, deportations—show he’s a freight train. Ukraine’s cave-in proves it: when Trump says jump, they ask how high. Republicans say Russia’s next—agree or face the hammer—and peace is Trump’s to claim.
