US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met Russian officials in Abu Dhabi on Monday, marking a new effort by Washington to push forward negotiations aimed at ending the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. A US official said the talks would continue into Tuesday, though the identities of the Russian delegates remained unclear as discussions progressed.
Moreover, the meeting followed recent attempts by US and Ukrainian officials to reduce differences over a proposed peace plan that Kyiv and European allies criticised for heavily favouring Moscow. The decision to revise the proposal highlighted growing concerns across Western capitals about the direction of Washington’s diplomatic strategy.
Read more : Abu Dhabi airport offers free SIM and internet to arrivals
The US official also said that Driscoll was expected to meet Ukrainian representatives during his stay in Abu Dhabi, signalling Washington’s intent to keep both sides engaged. However, the White House did not provide an immediate response when asked to comment on the ongoing talks.
Additionally, US policy on the Ukraine war has shifted sharply in recent months, raising uncertainty among allies. Trump’s sudden Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in August initially alarmed observers, although the meeting ultimately resulted in added pressure on Moscow rather than concessions.
Read more : UAE pledges $50bn investment in Canada’s AI and energy
The latest 28-point US peace proposal surprised many in Washington, Kyiv, and Europe because it called for Ukraine to surrender more territory, scale back its military, and abandon any future NATO membership—conditions long dismissed by Kyiv as unacceptable. These terms also intensified European fears about potential future Russian expansion.
Furthermore, the renewed diplomatic push comes at a difficult moment for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who faces political strain after a corruption scandal removed two ministers and as Russia reports gains on the battlefield. This combination of internal and external pressure has left Kyiv navigating one of its most challenging phases since the war began.