[Skybird]

[NTV] In Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the United States reached surprising agreements after significant tensions. The path to this agreement was apparently not easy. There were reportedly difficult moments during the hours-long meeting. There was even talk of an impasse.

Ukraine has provided insights into the recent talks with the United States in Saudi Arabia. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi declined to go into detail so as not to "cause any damage," but hinted that the surprising agreements were anything but easy to reach.

In a lengthy post on Facebook, the spokesperson wrote that the negotiations lasted eight hours almost continuously. "Especially in the final hours, when fatigue is already palpable, a way out of an impasse suddenly becomes possible—or even a difficult compromise," the spokesperson said. "The winner is the one who survives the last one and a half kilometers through sheer willpower and strength of character."

According to Tykhyi, it was important to keep emotions under control. This had already been one of the most important challenges even before the talks. "One that, in my opinion, we all handled well."

The previously escalated meeting between Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump and his Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House had caused major tensions between Kyiv and Washington. The presidents were not personally present at the negotiations in Saudi Arabia. Kyiv's head of state, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in particular, had made an effort to calm the situation after the scandal, even though he had been paraded before the world's eyes at the White House.

Tykhyi cites numerous articles published the previous evening, citing anonymous sources, as one of the reasons for the success of the talks in Saudi Arabia. This was a kind of "coded dialogue" between the key players. "Expectations, attempts to promote or torpedo the process, random statements or interpretations – all of these played a role."

The composition of the negotiating teams, including diplomats and military representatives, was also said to have been extremely important. Everyone behaved extremely "professionally, principledly, and wisely." Tykhyi recounts a particularly difficult moment toward the end of the negotiations. Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha looked at him, and his expression conveyed both "incredible" and "everything will be fine."

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is said to have played the decisive role despite his absence. "He led the delegation in such a way that it maintained an iron defense of several key positions," reports the Foreign Ministry spokesperson. He considers the negotiations among the most interesting he has ever participated in. However, according to Tykhyi, all details of the meeting could only be revealed in many years.

Many observers consider the results of the talks a major success for Ukraine because they succeeded in persuading the US to resume military aid and provide intelligence.

By agreeing to a 30-day ceasefire, Kyiv has also made unmistakably clear the commitment to peace, which Washington has vehemently demanded. "The ball is now in Russia's court," said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio afterwards.