In a significant development for international diplomacy, representatives from Russia and the United States held their first direct talks concerning what is widely known as “Trump’s plan” for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. These high-stakes discussions, which took place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, on Tuesday, November 25, reportedly concluded without any publicly announced breakthroughs or concrete agreements. While the U.S. side expressed optimism about the talks, Moscow remained tight-lipped, with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stating, “We still have nothing to say.” Intriguingly, of all the key stakeholders, only Ukraine has reportedly expressed satisfaction with the evolving peace proposal. European nations and the European Union leadership, however, harbor significant reservations and intend to press for their own amendments, potentially protracting the negotiation process.
The American delegation was led by U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, who has recently begun functioning as a de facto special envoy for Donald Trump regarding Ukraine. The official representative for the U.S. Army Minister, Jeff Tolbert, confirmed his participation but did not name the Russian counterpart. Sources cited by the American portal Axios further suggest the presence of a Ukrainian delegation in Abu Dhabi, headed by Kyrylo Budanov, chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, indicating a degree of Ukrainian involvement in the discussions.
Driscoll’s role underscores a potential shift in U.S. foreign policy approach. Lacking traditional diplomatic experience but with a strong business background, he is a known confidant and protégé of U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, who is reportedly taking a leading role in the conflict resolution efforts. This direct channel from the White House, bypassing the State Department, mirrors similar appointments under the current administration, such as Special Representative Steve Witkoff, another businessman entrusted by Trump. This unconventional diplomatic track may also explain anomalies in earlier drafts of the peace plan, including an erroneous reference to the expired START-1 nuclear arms treaty.
Indeed, the American publication Politico suggests that Driscoll, or possibly Vance, has introduced a more assertive, almost ultimatum-like dynamic into the negotiations, particularly concerning Ukraine. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly played the role of a “good cop,” successfully urging Kyiv to accept the plan and lifting an earlier deadline of November 27 for Ukraine to agree. Multiple U.S. officials and diplomats, as reported by CBS News, confirm that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky consented to Trump’s plan as early as November 25, albeit with a few minor additions. Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, corroborated this “general understanding” between Kyiv and Washington, anticipating final agreement during an upcoming visit by President Zelensky to the U.S.
In stark contrast, European stakeholders remain largely unconvinced. The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, joined a chorus of EU officials in calling for modifications to Trump’s blueprint, emphasizing that a resolution without Europe’s full involvement is untenable. Among the points of contention, the U.S. proposal to leverage frozen Russian assets within the EU has drawn particular concern, a detail believed to be excised from the plan’s new iteration, which has reportedly been trimmed from 28 to 19 points. The precise contents of this revised plan remain undisclosed by any official government entity.
Adding to the diplomatic flurry, the European Parliament is set to formally articulate its stance on President Trump’s peace initiatives. A resolution titled “The EU’s Position on the Peace Plan for Ukraine” is scheduled for presentation on Wednesday, November 26, with a vote expected the following day. As these complex maneuvers unfold, some analysts within Russian Telegram channels interpret the situation as a struggle primarily between the Trump administration and Europe, with Russia positioned more as an observer. While the initial deadline around Thanksgiving was seen as a pressure tactic, the rapid pace of recent events suggests that, despite the lack of immediate concrete agreements, the multi-faceted effort to untangle the conflict is accelerating, paving the way for further, potentially more detailed, negotiations.