US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held several rounds of talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday and Tuesday as the Trump administration intensified efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine, according to Driscoll’s spokesperson. The discussions come at a time when Washington is pushing hard to bridge differences with Kyiv over a controversial peace plan that has raised alarm among US allies.
Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Tolbert said Driscoll and his team were engaged in negotiations aimed at moving closer to “a lasting peace in Ukraine”. He added that the talks were progressing positively and that Driscoll remained closely aligned with the White House as diplomacy advances. It remains unclear who represented the Russian side, and US officials said Driscoll was also expected to meet Ukrainian negotiators while in Abu Dhabi.
The diplomatic push comes amid concerns that the latest US peace proposal, a 28 point plan unveiled last week, could pressure Ukraine into accepting terms seen as favouring Russia. The plan calls for Kyiv to surrender additional territory, accept permanent restrictions on its military and abandon any ambitions of joining NATO. These conditions have long been rejected by Ukraine as incompatible with its sovereignty and security.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged on Monday that the revised plan includes some “correct” elements following consultations in Geneva, but said the most sensitive issues would be discussed directly with President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy, who may travel to the US in the coming days, cautioned that drafting a final agreement would be difficult and said many Ukrainians remain sceptical that peace can be reached soon. His political position has been weakened by a corruption scandal that led to the dismissal of two ministers, while Russia continues to make gains on the battlefield.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said any amended peace plan must reflect understandings reached between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump at their earlier summit in Alaska.
Alongside the talks in Abu Dhabi, the group known as the Coalition of the Willing – which includes Britain and France – held a virtual meeting on Tuesday to discuss the proposal and possible next steps. European leaders have expressed unease over the US approach, fearing that Ukraine might be cornered into accepting unfavourable terms.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the plan contained elements worth exploring but warned against accepting any agreement that could be seen as forcing Ukraine into capitulation. He stressed that only Ukraine can determine what, if any, territorial concessions it is willing to make.
Macron added that while the proposal offers insight into what Russia might consider acceptable, that does not mean it should define Europe’s or Ukraine’s position. European officials say they want peace but insist it must honour Ukraine’s sovereignty and security.
