US conducts secret peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi

US Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday for talks with Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov and a Russian delegation. The talks will continue on Tuesday.

The meetings follow weekend talks in Geneva, where cooperation between Washington and Kiev resulted in the shortening of the 28-point peace treaty to a new 19-point draft treaty that is more favorable to Ukraine.

But final solutions to the most sensitive issues - territory or Ukraine's entry into NATO - remain up to the presidents, the Financial Times reports.

The US side is still "optimistic" about a deal, according to White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt. Zelensky on Monday evening praised the cooperation and stressed that the final document would need decisions at the highest level.

He made it clear that he would personally address the next steps with President Trump. At the same time, the US continues to negotiate in parallel with both sides of the conflict.

(reuters, sie)