Ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine to be hosted in Saudi Arabia under U.S. mediation

Ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine, with U.S. mediation, will be held in Saudi Arabia. 

This was revealed by an exclusive report from Politico, which cites several sources involved in the negotiations. 

The talks are expected to be a crucial step in efforts to end the nearly three-year-long conflict.

According to the report, a high-level U.S. delegation, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Steve Witkoff, the former Middle East envoy under President Trump, will be present in Saudi Arabia for the discussions. 

However, General Keith Kellogg, the U.S. chief envoy for Ukraine, will not attend the talks.

The move comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky raised concerns over diminishing U.S. support for Europe. 

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Zelensky commented, "America is no longer standing by Europe like it used to." 

His remarks highlighted a shift in the U.S.‍‍`s approach to the Ukraine conflict and European security.

In a parallel development, U.S. President Donald Trump recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the phone, where they discussed the Ukraine war in detail. 

Reports suggest that the Trump administration has made significant progress towards negotiating a peace agreement with Russia. 

Some insiders believe that it’s only a matter of time before a formal agreement is reached.

The roots of the current crisis date back to February 24, 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a special military operation in Ukraine. Since then, the war has raged on, causing immense destruction and loss of life, with no resolution in sight until now.

The upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia could be a turning point in the conflict, depending on the outcomes. 

As the world watches, both sides will have the opportunity to take steps toward peace under U.S. mediation, though it remains to be seen how quickly a deal can be reached.

With the cancellation of General Kellogg‍‍`s attendance and Zelensky’s concerns about U.S. support, the dynamics of the negotiation will be interesting to follow, making this a pivotal moment in the quest for a ceasefire.