WASHINGTON, D.C., (NewsNation) — For the first time amid a renewed push to find a proposal to end the war in Ukraine, U.S. officials met with Russian representatives Monday night to try to forge an agreement, NewsNation has learned.
Led by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, a U.S. team first met with a Russian delegation Monday in Abu Dhabi, a U.S. official told NewsNation. Talks were scheduled to continue Tuesday.
After Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Driscoll sat down with Ukrainian officials on Sunday to discuss the U.S. peace proposal and reported they had made progress, Rubio and Witkoff returned to Washington while Driscoll headed to Abu Dhabi.
These meetings were not a surprise to Ukraine. “The Ukrainians know we are here. We are being transparent,” the official said.
U.S. officials had said last week Driscoll, who traveled to Ukraine before talks in Geneva, was expected to meet with Russians soon as the Trump administration tries to narrow the differences. Driscoll has taken on a leading role in the peace effort in recent weeks.
President Donald Trump has said he would like to reach an agreement by Thursday.
While the problems the Ukrainians had with the original proposal have narrowed, major issues still divide the parties.
“Our team has already reported today on the new draft of steps, and this is indeed the right approach – I will discuss the sensitive issues with President Trump. Ukraine will never be an obstacle to peace,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address Monday evening.