High-Level US-Russia Discussions on Ukraine Peace Process Continue in Abu Dhabi Following Weekend Talks in Geneva
Intense diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine have intensified, with United States Army Secretary Dan Driscoll arriving in Abu Dhabi to engage directly with a Russian delegation regarding the parameters of a potential peace deal. Secretary Driscoll’s discussions began Monday evening and are scheduled to continue throughout the day on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, with the stated objective of rapidly advancing the peace negotiations. These talks, confirmed by multiple diplomatic sources, follow a weekend of high-level consultations in Geneva, Switzerland, that included officials from the United States, Ukraine, and various European allies, all focused on revising a controversial US-backed peace proposal.
The meeting in the United Arab Emirates capital is part of a concerted and aggressive push by the current administration to secure a ceasefire in the prolonged conflict before the upcoming American Thanksgiving holiday. Secretary Driscoll’s delegation is reportedly focused on bridging the significant gaps that remain in the proposed 28-point peace plan, a framework that has been met with considerable criticism from Kyiv and European capitals for allegedly accommodating many of Moscow’s core demands. These demands include the permanent cession of certain Ukrainian territories and a guaranteed end to Ukraine’s aspiration for NATO membership, provisions that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously and publicly rejected.
The direct engagement between the US Army Secretary and Russian envoys underscores Washington’s commitment to facilitating a resolution, even as details of the negotiations remain closely guarded and subject to internal disputes within the US government. Following the Geneva talks, a joint US-Ukrainian statement was issued, announcing the drafting of an “updated and refined peace framework” that reportedly addresses some of Ukraine’s key priorities, including a commitment to fully upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty in any future agreement. However, the exact nature of the revisions and the Russian delegation’s willingness to accept them are still highly uncertain. As the diplomatic clock ticks toward the deadline set by the White House for a substantial response to the peace framework, the discussions in Abu Dhabi represent a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to transform the heavily contested proposal into a mutually acceptable pathway toward peace.
