Secret Peace Negotiations Intensify Amid Ongoing Conflict
In a significant diplomatic development, U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has engaged in unannounced talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi as part of the Trump administration's intensified efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Additional meetings were scheduled for Tuesday, marking one of the most direct high-level contacts between American and Russian representatives in recent months.
The clandestine discussions occur at a critical juncture, with U.S. and Ukrainian officials working to bridge substantial gaps in their approaches to peace. Core issues remain unresolved, and Ukrainian authorities express concern about being pressured into accepting an agreement that largely reflects Kremlin preferences.
Details of Abu Dhabi Meetings Remain Shrouded in Secrecy
While a U.S. official confirmed the Abu Dhabi talks to Reuters, the precise nature of the discussions and the composition of the Russian delegation remain unclear. Secretary Driscoll has emerged as a key figure in American diplomatic efforts and is expected to meet with Ukrainian officials during his stay in Abu Dhabi.
The diplomatic push unfolds against a backdrop of continued violence. Overnight, Kyiv suffered a devastating barrage of missiles and hundreds of drone attacks that killed at least six people. Residents were forced to seek shelter underground, many wearing winter jackets and some taking refuge in tents as the assault demonstrated the ongoing human cost of the conflict.
Controversial 28-Point Peace Plan Sparks Concerns
The Trump administration's latest peace proposal, a 28-point plan revealed last week, has generated surprise and concern among U.S. government officials, Kyiv leadership, and European allies. The unexpected initiative raised fresh worries that Washington might pressure Ukraine to accept terms heavily favoring Moscow.
The proposed agreement would require Kyiv to surrender additional territory, accept military restrictions, and permanently abandon NATO membership aspirations—conditions Ukraine has consistently rejected as equivalent to surrender. The sudden American diplomatic offensive increases pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who faces his most vulnerable position since the war began in 2022 following a corruption scandal that led to the dismissal of two ministers and Russian battlefield advances.
Zelenskyy Acknowledges Progress But Highlights Sensitive Issues
President Zelenskyy indicated on Monday that the revised peace plan now includes "correct" elements following weekend discussions in Geneva, though sensitive matters require direct conversation with President Trump. "After Geneva, there are fewer points, no longer 28, and many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework," Zelenskyy stated in his nightly video address.
The Ukrainian leader emphasized that his team would address the most delicate negotiation points directly with President Trump, acknowledging that finalizing any agreement would prove challenging. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the American proposal as "a very good basis for negotiations" while declining to comment on the Abu Dhabi meeting reports.
European Allies Express Caution Against Capitulation
French President Emmanuel Macron voiced measured support for the peace initiative while warning against terms that would amount to Ukrainian surrender. "It's an initiative that goes in the right direction: peace. However, there are aspects of that plan that deserve to be discussed, negotiated, improved," Macron told RTL radio.
The French leader stressed that only Ukraine can determine what territorial concessions it might accept and rejected the notion that military limitations should be imposed. Macron also emphasized that Europe alone holds authority over frozen Russian assets within its jurisdiction.
As diplomatic efforts continue, regional tensions persist. Romania deployed fighter jets early Tuesday to track drones that breached its airspace near the Ukrainian border, with one aircraft reportedly advancing deeper into Romanian territory—the latest in a series of suspected Russian drone incursions into NATO member states.
