Secretive Middle East Peace Talks Underway
United States Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll is reportedly engaged in confidential discussions with both Russian and Ukrainian representatives in Abu Dhabi today, marking another attempt to find common ground in the ongoing conflict. The clandestine meetings aim to reconcile differences between the original American peace proposal, which considered Russian demands, and Ukraine's response, backed by European allies.
Diplomatic Efforts Amid Continued Violence
According to Financial Times reports, Driscoll already met with Russian officials on Monday night, though neither side has officially confirmed these discussions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov declined to comment on the alleged meeting, stating he had "nothing to say" about the talks.
The Ukrainian delegation is believed to be represented by Kyrylo Budanov, chief of the Ukrainian defence ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), though complete participant lists for both delegations remain unclear.
These Abu Dhabi negotiations follow weekend talks in Geneva, where Ukrainian officials resisted what they described as "maximalist demands" from Russia.
Mounting Civilian Casualties and International Concerns
Despite diplomatic movements, Russia continues its military assault on Ukraine. Overnight attacks killed at least six people and injured 13 others, with strikes on the capital Kyiv knocking out water, electricity, and heating in parts of the city.
Further damage to Ukraine's energy infrastructure was reported, compounding the humanitarian crisis as winter approaches.
French President Emmanuel Macron issued a stark warning this morning, cautioning against any peace agreement that would amount to "capitulation" by Kyiv. In an interview with RTL radio, Macron stressed that such a deal would "give Russia all the freedom to go further, including to other European countries and put everyone's security in danger."
Macron emphasised that any viable peace arrangement must be robust enough to prevent Russia from re-invading Ukraine "six months, eight months later, two years later."
The talks continue against a backdrop of escalating violence and international concern about the conflict's broader implications for European security.
