Abu Dhabi: The United States has held a quiet round of talks with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi as part of a renewed effort to explore a possible path toward ending the war in Ukraine. According to people familiar with the discussions, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll met a Russian delegation on Monday in the latest attempt to create space for serious negotiations.
The meeting comes at a sensitive moment. The United States and Ukraine have been working together on a revised peace framework after earlier proposals drew criticism for appearing too close to Russian demands. The original 28 point plan was widely rejected in Kyiv and among European allies because it suggested limits on Ukraine’s military and raised questions about the future of occupied territories. Officials now say a new 19 point draft has removed some of the most disputed ideas and is more aligned with Ukraine’s position.
Despite these steps, major uncertainties remain. It is still not clear who represented Russia in the Abu Dhabi talks, and no official details have been released by Washington or Moscow. Ukraine has insisted that it must be directly involved in any process that shapes its future and has warned against any agreement made without its full participation.
Ukrainian leaders say they are reviewing the updated proposals but stress that the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity cannot be compromised. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly said Ukraine must have a seat at the table and that any genuine peace effort must begin with clear commitments from Russia.
Fighting on the ground has continued even as diplomatic contacts increase. Russian strikes have hit cities across Ukraine, while Ukrainian forces continue targeting military sites inside Russia. The ongoing violence highlights the difficulty of reaching even a temporary pause in the conflict.
The talks in Abu Dhabi follow earlier US Ukraine discussions in Geneva, where both sides tried to narrow differences over what a workable peace plan might look like. European partners are also watching the process closely, concerned that any agreement must protect long term security in the region.
For now, the Abu Dhabi meeting is seen as an exploratory step rather than a breakthrough. Officials familiar with the effort say more rounds of communication are expected, but progress will depend on whether all parties are willing to engage in direct and transparent dialogue.
The path to peace remains uncertain, but the latest talks show the United States is trying to open channels with both Kyiv and Moscow in the hope that a more structured negotiation can eventually take shape.