US: The ball is now in Russia's court

Ukraine has backed a US proposal for a 30 day ceasefire in the war with Russia, subject to the agreement of Moscow. The announcement follows eight hours of talks between Ukrainian and US delegations in Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (who wasn't at the talks) said the proposal included a truce along the entire front line, not just in the air and at sea. The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists in Jeddah that the ball was now in Russia's court. The US has agreed to immediately lift its pause on military aid for Ukraine and intelligence sharing as a result of the talks. We speak to veteran US diplomat Kurt Volker.

Also in the programme: The former President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte is on his way to The Netherlands to face charges from the International Criminal Court related to his war on drugs; and armed militants in Pakistan attack a train and seize hundreds of hostages.

(Photo: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speak with the media after meetings with a Ukrainian delegation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia March 11, 2025. Saul Loeb/Pool via Reuters)