Secretive high-level negotiations between American, Russian and Ukrainian officials are underway in Abu Dhabi as the United States attempts to broker a peace deal to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Clandestine Meetings in the UAE
US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll is reportedly engaged in confidential discussions with both Russian and Ukrainian delegations in the United Arab Emirates capital today. This represents another American effort to find common ground between the original US peace proposal, which incorporated Russian demands, and Ukraine's response that has received European backing.
According to Financial Times reports, Driscoll had already met with Russian representatives on Monday night, though no official confirmation of these discussions has been provided. When questioned about the meeting, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment, stating he had "nothing to say" about the talks.
Key Players and Previous Negotiations
While the complete composition of both delegations remains unclear, media sources indicate that Ukraine will be represented by Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Ukrainian defence ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR).
These Abu Dhabi meetings follow weekend discussions in Geneva, where Ukrainian officials resisted some of Russia's more extreme demands. The negotiations occur against a backdrop of continued violence, with Russia launching another wave of strikes overnight that killed at least six people and injured thirteen others.
Ongoing Attacks and International Concerns
Russia's assault on Kyiv resulted in significant damage to the capital's infrastructure, knocking out water, electricity and heating in parts of the city. Additional damage was reported to Ukraine's energy infrastructure, highlighting the challenges of pursuing diplomacy while military actions continue.
French President Emmanuel Macron issued a warning this morning against any peace agreement that would amount to a "capitulation" by Kyiv. In an interview with RTL radio, Macron stressed that such a deal would "give Russia all the freedom to go further, including to other European [countries] and put everyone's security in danger."
The French leader emphasised that any sustainable peace arrangement must be robust enough to prevent Russia from reinvading Ukraine "six months, eight months later, two years later."
These secret talks represent the latest diplomatic effort to resolve a conflict that continues to claim lives and destabilise European security, even as fighting persists on the ground.
