President Volodymyr Zelenskii acknowledged that the current draft contains fewer points than the initial 28 and that he still needs to discuss with Trump the most delicate elements, particularly those that could compromise Ukrainian sovereignty or allow Russia to solidify territorial gains by force. As negotiations advance in Abu Dhabi, the war continues to claim victims. The talks, led by U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, coincide with parallel work by Kyiv to finalize a meeting between President Zelenskii and Trump before the end of the month, aiming to conclude a peace agreement that remains under strict confidentiality. Driscoll met with a Russian delegation in the UAE capital on Monday evening, and according to U.S. officials, is expected to continue talks on Tuesday. A U.S. official in Abu Dhabi even stated that 'the Ukrainians have accepted the peace agreement,' though they admitted that adjustments are still pending. Despite the optimism from Washington and Kyiv, the Kremlin maintains public silence and avoids confirming any progress. Major European governments fear that a rushed agreement would legitimize Russian territorial advances and leave Ukraine in a vulnerable position. Driscoll has emerged in recent days as the main U.S. architect of the process, after meeting with Ukrainian authorities in Kyiv and participating in an expanded round in Geneva with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was more explicit, stating that Russia is using existing diplomatic channels and awaiting a proposal that must first be harmonized between Washington, Kyiv, and European capitals. Russian caution is explained by the complexity of the concessions involved. Although he avoided detailing the draft's content, he insisted that Kyiv hopes to finalize 'as soon as possible' a trip for Zelenskii to the U.S. to agree on the final steps with Trump. If Zelenskii travels to the U.S. and a meeting with Trump is confirmed, the conflict would enter a decisive phase after nearly three years of war that reconfigured European security and global energy policy. His presence in Abu Dhabi marks the highest level of direct dialogue between Washington and Moscow since the start of this negotiating phase. The end of the week could be decisive. Abu Dhabi, November 25, 2025 – Total News Agency-TNA-The United States and Russia are holding discreet but decisive rounds of negotiations in Abu Dhabi, seen as the most substantial effort by the Donald Trump administration to force an end to the war triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Trump team's original plan—rejected in Europe for being excessively aligned with Moscow's demands—is said to have undergone significant modifications after objections from Ukraine and several European states. The meetings are running parallel to the presence of a Ukrainian team in Abu Dhabi, marking an unusual scenario of indirect negotiations among the three parties involved in the conflict. Dmitry Peskov, Putin's press secretary, stated that Moscow 'has not received an official version of the plan' and that Russia will only comment once the United States delivers a definitive text. The Army's press secretary, Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Tolbert, affirmed that the talks 'are advancing well' and that Driscoll maintains constant coordination with the White House and U.S. agencies to adjust the terms of a potential understanding. Meanwhile, Ukraine has expressed marked optimism. These episodes of violence increase political pressure on both sides to reach an agreement that reduces military escalation before winter. Europe is observing the process with reservations. In Kyiv, a Russian attack caused at least seven deaths and thirteen injuries, with damage in more than a dozen districts of the capital. Rustem Umerov, one of Zelenskii's most trusted officials in the negotiation process, highlighted that the Ukrainian delegation achieved a 'common understanding' with the U.S. on the central points of the agreement after a series of meetings in Geneva. French President Emmanuel Macron considered that Trump's proposal 'is going in the right direction,' but warned that sensitive points remain under review to ensure that the peace does not imply 'a capitulation.' In parallel, Russian authorities reported that three people died and ten were injured in an airstrike attributed to Ukraine in the city of Taganrog, in the border region of Rostov.
