High-Stakes UAE Meetings Signal New Phase in US–Russia–Ukraine Negotiations

Ukraine has sent Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defence, to the United Arab Emirates. Reports indicate he may lead the Ukrainian delegation in negotiations with an American group headed by Daniel Driscoll, the US Secretary of the Army.

"Driscoll was supposed to meet with Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate,” a source said. Driscoll is expected to present a shortened peace plan that the United States and Ukraine agreed upon on 23 November in Geneva.

US Army Secretary meets Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi

Driscoll met the Russian delegation in the UAE on 24 November, with another meeting set for 25 November, CBS said.

"Driscoll met members of the Russian delegation on Monday evening in Abu Dhabi for several hours. He plans to meet them again during the day on Tuesday to discuss the peace process and accelerate progress toward negotiations,” the report states.

The Kremlin commented on the possibility of a meeting between Driscoll and the Russian delegation.

"We still have nothing to say. We are following media reports. We are analyzing them,” Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary to the President of Russia

Western journalists believe Driscoll's meeting with the Russian side is meant to lay the groundwork for higher-level talks. State Duma member Svetlana Zhurova suggested that a key topic could be the peace plan regarding the presence of NATO forces in Ukraine. According to her, the meeting was initiated by the American side.

Ukrainian delegation earlier held talks with the US in Geneva

Previously, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky reported the results of talks with representatives of Washington. He added that he would personally discuss contentious parts of the peace plan with Donald Trump .

"Today our delegation returned from Geneva after negotiations with the American side and European partners, and now the list of necessary steps to end the war may become workable. There is still much for all of us to refine together to prepare the final document, and we must do everything properly,” Zelensky said.

He noted that the plan no longer contains 28 points: "There are many correct things included now.” It is known that the proposal may have been shortened from the initial 28 to 19 points — reportedly removing provisions on amnesty for actions committed during the conflict and on limiting the future size of the Ukrainian army.

Alongside Budanov, the negotiating group includes: Andriy Hnatov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Serhiy Kyslytsya, and others. Zelensky appointed Andriy Yermak, head of the Presidential Office, as leader of the delegation.

The US peace plan presented to Kyiv

The American peace plan was presented to Kyiv on 20 November. Its primary conditions reportedly include Ukraine's refusal to join NATO and recognition of Crimea, Donetsk, and Lugansk as Russian territory.