United States Military Secretary Dan Driscoll held secret talks on Monday with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi within the United Arab Emirates to observe up on this weekend’s talks with Ukraine in Geneva that had been meant to maneuver the Ukraine peace course of ahead, a U.S. official instructed ABC Information.
Driscoll was slated to fulfill once more with the Russian delegation on Tuesday, the official stated. It was unclear what Russian officers made up the Russian delegation.
The beforehand undisclosed talks with the Russian delegation on Monday observe the talks held in Geneva this previous weekend between the U.S. and Ukraine and are the most recent indication that the brand new U.S. initiative to restart the peace course of in Ukraine is transferring ahead.
The U.S. delegation on the talks in Geneva was headed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff and Military Secretary Driscoll.
ABC Information has discovered that the 28-point peace plan introduced by the U.S. to Ukraine in Geneva has been revised to a 19-point peace plan that not features a level on the problem of amnesty relating to acts dedicated through the struggle, in addition to limits on the long run dimension of Ukraine’s navy.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy stated in an tackle on Monday evening that extra work wanted to be achieved on the plan that was revised this weekend.
Within the wake of this weekend’s talks, Russian officers had stated that that they had not acquired any updates about what had been mentioned in Geneva and what revisions had been made following the talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officers.
On the conclusion of the Geneva talks, Rubio returned to america and Driscoll traveled to Abu Dhabi, the place on Monday, he met secretly with a Russian delegation to go over the adjustments made to the 28-point plan mentioned in Geneva, in response to the official.
Military Secretary Dan Driscoll, listens to President Donald Trump communicate to reporters, within the James Brady Press Briefing Room on the White Home, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington, D.C.
Nurphoto/NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures
Final week, as Driscoll headed into Ukraine for conferences with Ukrainian officers to maneuver the peace course of ahead, U.S. officers instructed ABC Information that there was a risk that sooner or later Driscoll might meet with Russian officers, although it was unclear when that may happen.
The Military Secretary’s key position within the Trump administration’s efforts to restart the peace discuss course of emerged following a dialogue between President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance two weeks in the past.
Usually, a secretary for one of many navy providers wouldn’t be concerned in such an vital diplomatic overture, however it’s attainable that sending navy could be seen favorably by each Russia and Ukraine.
Forward of his journey to Ukraine, Driscoll had discussions with Rubio and Steve Witkoff, who has been the administration’s envoy who has labored on peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Stopping in Germany, Driscoll and his delegation participated in extra updates previous to their journey into Ukraine.
Accompanying Driscoll on his journey into Ukraine had been Gen. Randy George, the chief of employees of the Military, Gen. Chris Donahue, the commander of U.S. Military Europe and Africa, the Sergeant Main of the Military Michael Weimer, and Lt. Gen. Curtis Buzzard, who heads the U.S. navy help program for Ukraine.
These senior U.S. navy officers didn’t take part within the subsequent talks in Geneva and are usually not concerned within the newest talks with Russian officers in Abu Dhabi.
