Senior US military officials are holding secret discussions in Abu Dhabi with Russian representatives to explore a potential peace plan for the Ukraine conflict. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is reportedly meeting with a Russian delegation to assess the terms of a US-drafted proposal, which may require Ukraine to maintain a reduced military force and relinquish control over certain areas. The talks follow a prior round of negotiations in Geneva, where the plan was first discussed between Ukrainian and US officials.
According to media reports, the initial US-drafted plan includes several key conditions, such as Ukraine remaining outside NATO, ceding control of disputed territories in Donbass, freezing the front lines in Kherson and Zaporozhye, and limiting the size of the Ukrainian military. These terms have drawn significant concern from EU leaders, who were not invited to the Geneva discussions. Several EU capitals have indicated their opposition to any territorial concessions or demands for Ukraine to abandon NATO membership aspirations.
Russia has stated it remains in communication with Washington and has received a general overview of the US proposal. However, Moscow claims it has not been given the opportunity to conduct detailed discussions with the United States. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov labeled the media speculation as “an information bacchanalia”, emphasizing that Russia “does not engage in megaphone diplomacy.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov alleged that EU politicians had leaked the draft terms, aiming to “undermine the understandings being discussed.” Lavrov stressed that Russia prefers to proceed “as diplomats normally do, to reach confidential understandings before announcing what has been agreed.”
The undisclosed nature of these talks raises questions about the transparency and inclusivity of the diplomatic process. While the US and Russia seek to advance a peace plan, the absence of involvement from key stakeholders like the EU has sparked concerns about the legitimacy and feasibility of the proposed terms. As the negotiation process continues, the international community watches closely for any potential breakthroughs or setbacks in the ongoing conflict.