On November 25, 2025, the US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll held a secret meeting with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, to discuss the recently revised Ukrainian peace plan. This marks the latest step by the Trump administration to push for a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, with the rare move of sending a military official like Driscoll to engage directly with the Russian side.
According to US officials, Driscoll’s visit is a follow-up to the US-Ukraine talks in Geneva over the weekend, aimed at conveying the updated content resulting from the US-Ukraine negotiations to the Russian side.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff have already returned to Washington after the meeting, leading Driscoll to conduct the meetings in Abu Dhabi on his own.
Several media outlets have reported, citing sources, that the plan has been streamlined from the initial 28 points to around 19 points. Driscoll is expected to meet with the Russian delegation again on Tuesday, with negotiations still ongoing. It was also reported by Reuters that he may also meet with Ukrainian officials in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
Two individuals familiar with the negotiations revealed to Politico that Driscoll’s peace plan includes modifications related to Ukraine ceding control of the Donbas region to Russia, as well as other sensitive issues concerning Ukrainian territory. These matters are to be further discussed between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky.
ABC News reported that the new version of the peace plan has removed issues relating to wartime amnesty and restrictions on the future size of the Ukrainian military.
When asked about the matter, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly told Politico that Trump “appreciates Secretary Driscoll’s efforts in collecting feedback from both Russian and Ukrainian sides to create a lasting and viable peace agreement.”
The US State Department mentioned that President Trump’s entire team, including Secretary of State Rubio, envoy Witkoff, and many others, “have been working closely over the past 10 months to end this senseless and destructive war.”
Prior to the Abu Dhabi meeting, Driscoll also met with Ukrainian President Zelensky in Kyiv last week.
Zelensky expressed his appreciation on Monday, stating that he values the constructive approach taken by the US and acknowledged that many correct elements have been incorporated into this framework. However, he noted that there are still many unresolved issues.
Over the weekend, representatives from European allies such as the UK, France, Germany, and Italy held separate meetings with both the US and Ukrainian sides to coordinate their positions.
A European diplomat cautiously expressed optimism about the progress but noted that there is still a long way to go.
On Tuesday, a “coalition of the willing” consisting of around 50 countries plans to hold an online meeting to discuss the peace negotiation status and coordinate new military support for Ukraine.