Keith Kellogg, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, announced on April 14, 2025, that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness for a “permanent peace” deal to end the Ukraine war, following talks in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking after a closed-door meeting hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Kellogg said Putin indicated flexibility on terms, including a ceasefire and Ukrainian neutrality, though no formal proposal emerged. The discussions, excluding Ukrainian officials, marked a rare U.S.-Russia engagement since the invasion began in 2022, which has killed over 600,000, per UN estimates.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, briefed in Kyiv, voiced skepticism, citing Russia’s violation of 2014 Minsk accords, which collapsed with 14,000 deaths. “Peace must include justice,” he said, demanding troop withdrawals. The talks follow Trump’s campaign pledge to broker an “immediate deal,” with 70% of Americans favoring negotiations, per Pew Research.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin’s openness but insisted on “security guarantees” for Russia, echoing demands rejected by NATO. Saudi mediation, hosting 12 summits since 2023, aims to bridge divides, but analysts warn trust remains low, with only 15% of Ukrainians backing concessions, per local polls.