Dan Driscoll, the Secretary of the U.S. Army, had meetings in Abu Dhabi with Russian officials and is set to meet with Ukrainian representatives as part of the Trump administration's efforts to mediate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

The discussions come against the backdrop of tensions generated by an American proposal to end the war, considered by Kiev to be too favorable to Moscow. American and Ukrainian officials have agreed to modify the proposal, which was perceived as a wishlist of the Kremlin. U.S. policy regarding the conflict in Ukraine has been wavering, and the most recent peace proposal has raised concerns that Washington might accept Russian demands, including the cession of territories and restrictions on the Ukrainian military. This may not address Europeans' fears regarding a new Russian aggression.