Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Diplomatic activity around the war in Ukraine intensified this week as senior US and Russian officials met in Abu Dhabi to discuss a proposed plan aimed at ending the nearly three-year conflict. The meetings, led by US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, mark one of the most substantive direct engagements between Washington and Moscow since the early stages of the war, according to a US official who spoke to CNN.
Driscoll, the highest-ranking American representative involved aside from diplomats, began talks with Russian officials on Monday and is expected to continue them into Tuesday. While the composition of the Russian delegation has not been disclosed, US officials say the group is attending with the explicit approval of President Vladimir Putin, an indication that Moscow views the discussions as strategically significant rather than merely exploratory.
The talks in Abu Dhabi come on the heels of several days of intense negotiations in Geneva, where American and Ukrainian officials worked through a 28-point peace framework drafted by the United States with input from both Kyiv and Moscow. Though the official text has not been released, the proposal is widely understood to address ceasefire conditions, territorial questions, political guarantees, and security arrangements for Ukraine issues that have long stalled previous attempts at negotiation.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the Geneva discussions produced substantial revisions to the US draft. He said the new version contains “fewer points than 28” and incorporates “many proper considerations,” reflecting Ukrainian concerns and red lines. Zelensky added that the negotiating delegation has briefed him on the updated framework and that he intends to discuss the most delicate aspects directly with US President Donald Trump. The White House, for its part, said Trump is “optimistic that a deal can be struck,” signaling strong political support in Washington for the ongoing diplomatic push.
The Kremlin has maintained a more guarded public posture. Putin recently stated that the US plan “in principle, could form the basis for a final peace settlement,” but he stopped short of endorsing the framework outright. He noted that the version reviewed by Russia aligns with discussions held earlier this year at a US–Russia summit in Alaska, though it remains unclear whether the latest draft emerging from Geneva still reflects those earlier understandings.
For now, the Abu Dhabi meetings are viewed primarily as groundwork for higher-level engagements that could involve diplomats, foreign ministers, or even heads of state should momentum continue. The willingness of Washington, Moscow, and Kyiv to remain at the table represents one of the most coordinated diplomatic efforts since the conflict began.
Whether these contacts signal a breakthrough or merely another round of complex, incremental negotiations remains uncertain. Yet the flurry of activity in recent days suggests that all sides recognize a shifting landscape militarily, politically, and strategically that may be creating new openings for dialogue.
As the Abu Dhabi talks continue this week, diplomats and observers alike will be watching closely to see whether the latest proposal marks the beginning of a genuine peace process or another fleeting moment in a war that has defied resolution for years.
