A U.S. official advised ABC Information on Tuesday {that a} Ukrainian delegation has agreed with the US on the phrases of a possible peace deal.
United States Military Secretary Dan Driscoll held secret talks on Monday with a Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi within the United Arab Emirates to comply with up on this weekend’s talks with Ukraine in Geneva that had been supposed to maneuver the Ukraine peace course of ahead, a U.S. official advised ABC Information.
“The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal,” the U.S. official mentioned. “There are some minor particulars to be sorted out however they’ve agreed to a peace deal.”
The beforehand undisclosed talks with the Russian delegation on Monday comply with the talks held in Geneva this previous weekend between the U.S. and Ukraine and are the newest indication that the brand new U.S. initiative to restart the peace course of in Ukraine is transferring ahead.
“Late Monday and all through Tuesday, Secretary Driscoll and crew have been in discussions with the Russian delegation to realize an enduring peace in Ukraine,” Lt. Col. Jeffrey Tolbert, a U.S. Military spokesman, mentioned on Tuesday. “The talks are going nicely and we stay optimistic. Secretary Driscoll is intently synchronized with the White Home and the U.S. interagency as these talks progress.”
Neither Ukraine nor Russia have formally confirmed the presence of their delegations being in Abu Dhabi.
A supply accustomed to the discussions confirmed to ABC Information that Ukraine agreed to the brand new 19-point peace plan through the talks in Geneva, not in Abu Dhabi.
The supply added that Kyrylo Budanov, the top of Ukrainian intelligence, is at present in Abu Dhabi the place he’s assembly with American officers and may meet with Russian officers as nicely.
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 realized that the 28-point peace plan offered 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 battle, in addition to limits on the longer term measurement of Ukraine’s navy.
Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy mentioned in an handle on Monday evening that extra work wanted to be carried out on the plan that was revised this weekend.
Within the wake of this weekend’s talks, Russian officers had mentioned that they’d 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.
Military Secretary Dan Driscoll, listens to President Donald Trump converse 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 Photos
On the conclusion of the Geneva talks, Rubio returned to the US 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.
Final week, as Driscoll headed into Ukraine for conferences with Ukrainian officers to maneuver the peace course of ahead, U.S. officers advised ABC Information that there was a risk that sooner or later Driscoll might meet with Russian officers, although it was unclear when which may happen.
The Military Secretary’s key position within the Trump administration’s efforts to restart the peace speak 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 doable that sending navy could be seen favorably by each Russia and Ukraine.
{A photograph} taken on Nov. 24, 2025, reveals The Independence Monument towers over Independence Sq. as buildings within the background are illuminated by a beam of daylight throughout dawn in Kyiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sergei Gapon/AFP by way of Getty Photos
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 further updates previous to their journey into Ukraine.
Accompanying Driscoll on his journey into Ukraine had been Gen. Randy George, the chief of workers 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 should not concerned within the newest talks with Russian officers in Abu Dhabi.
