WASHINGTON: US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi on Monday, with talks continuing on Tuesday, according to US and British media reports. The meetings follow earlier discussions held in Geneva with Ukrainian officials aimed at finding a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
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The talks in Abu Dhabi were previously undisclosed. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian military intelligence, is expected to participate, though details about the Russian delegation remain unclear. A US official described Driscoll’s engagement in the peace process as “hot and heavy” over the past few days, emphasizing that Ukraine has been kept informed throughout.
US army secretary Dan Driscoll is holding talks in Abu Dhabi with Ukraine’s military intelligence chief and a Russian delegation as Washington pushes for a deal to end the Kremlin’s war. https://t.co/Yh3voE3mPs pic.twitter.com/BfBZTRtIx5
— Financial Times (@FT) November 25, 2025
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm or deny the meetings, stating, “I have nothing to say. We are following the media reports.” The discussions come amid ongoing US efforts to persuade Ukraine to accept a 28-point peace plan, which Kyiv has rejected, citing demands it considers unacceptable, including ceding parts of eastern Donetsk and Lugansk and reducing its military size.
‼️ American officials met with Russian officials on Monday evening and will continue talks today to try to reach an agreement, – NewsNation
Led by Secretary of the Army Driscoll, the American delegation met with the Russian delegation for the first time on Monday evening in… pic.twitter.com/g4cs4v8sh8
— Savchenko Volodymyr (@SavchenkoReview) November 25, 2025
An “updated” version of the plan was reportedly drafted during Geneva talks with Ukrainian, US, and European officials. However, the Kremlin has already indicated it will not accept European amendments to the proposal. The meetings highlight the continuing complexity of diplomatic efforts to end the war, with both sides reluctant to compromise on core demands.
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Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, tens of thousands of civilians and military personnel have been killed, and millions of Ukrainians have been displaced, creating one of the largest humanitarian crises in recent history. The Abu Dhabi talks represent a renewed push by the United States and its allies to find a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.