Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll engaged in talks with a Russian delegation in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday after meeting with Ukrainian officials in Geneva over the weekend to hash out a peace plan to end the nearly four-year war in Eastern Europe.
Driscoll arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday for initial talks, followed by more substantive discussions on Tuesday. Ukraine’s military intelligence chief was also present, along with the Russian delegates. Details of the conversations remain sparse at this time.
The Army secretary presented a 28-point peace plan, now reportedly revised to 19 points, to Ukraine last week. Critics have accused the United States of giving in to Russia’s demands with the plan.
The initial draft, created by the Trump administration with input from Russia, called for Ukraine to cede territory and shrink its military. It also prohibits the war-torn country from ever joining NATO but does provide a NATO-style security guarantee, which would allow NATO members to come to Ukraine’s aid in the event of future Russian aggression.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff worked on the peace proposal for the past month, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. She denied that the U.S. peace plan demanded concessions from Ukraine while letting Russia off the hook.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appeared conflicted about the plan but agreed to engage “constructively, honestly, and operationally” with its points. Both Ukraine and the European Union expressed their concerns during closed-door talks in Geneva on Sunday.
Despite their “red lines” on territorial concessions and many other matters outlined in the U.S. plan, Ukrainian officials believed the Geneva talks were “highly productive.”
Zelensky has until Thursday to agree on a truce, although President Donald Trump said the deadline may be extended past Thanksgiving depending on how peace talks develop this week.
VANCE SPARS WITH MCCONNELL OVER ‘RIDICULOUS ATTACK’ ON UKRAINE PEACE PLAN
Trump remains optimistic about a resolution to the conflict.
“Is it really possible that big progress is being made in Peace Talks between Russia and Ukraine???” he posted on Truth Social early Monday. “Don’t believe it until you see it, but something good just may be happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”
