U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll engaged in secret discussions with a Russian delegation on Monday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This meeting followed recent talks in Geneva aimed at advancing the peace process in Ukraine, according to a U.S. official. Driscoll is scheduled to meet with the Russian delegation again on Tuesday.

Details about the specific Russian officials involved in the delegation remain unclear. The talks in Abu Dhabi are part of a broader U.S. initiative to revive the peace process in Ukraine, which has seen renewed activity following discussions held over the weekend in Geneva. The U.S. delegation in Geneva included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Driscoll.

During the Geneva talks, the U.S. presented a 28-point peace plan to Ukraine. However, this plan has since been revised to a 19-point framework. Notably, the revised plan omits provisions regarding amnesty for actions taken during the conflict and restrictions on the future size of Ukraine's military. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy acknowledged in a Monday night address that further work is needed on the updated plan.

Following the Geneva discussions, Russian officials indicated they had not received any updates on the outcomes or revisions made during the talks between U.S. and Ukrainian representatives. After the Geneva meetings, Rubio returned to the U.S., while Driscoll traveled to Abu Dhabi to discuss the changes to the peace plan with the Russian delegation.

Prior to his trip to Ukraine, Driscoll had indicated that future meetings with Russian officials were a possibility, although the timing was uncertain. His involvement in these diplomatic efforts is notable, as it is uncommon for a military service secretary to play such a significant role in diplomatic negotiations. This shift in approach may be viewed positively by both Russia and Ukraine.

Before heading to Ukraine, Driscoll conferred with Rubio and Witkoff, who has been instrumental in the administration's peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Driscoll's delegation also included senior military leaders, such as Gen. Randy George, Gen. Chris Donahue, Sgt. Maj. Michael Weimer, and Lt. Gen. Curtis Buzzard. However, these military officials did not participate in the Geneva talks or the recent discussions with the Russian delegation in Abu Dhabi.