Senior Pentagon officials have arrived in Ukraine to discuss efforts to end the war with Russia, the U.S. military has stated.
The team, led by U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv when he returns from a visit to Turkey on Thursday.
Reports emerged that the U.S. and Russia have prepared a new peace plan, involving significant concessions from Ukraine, although neither Washington nor Moscow has officially confirmed it.
Earlier, at least 26 people were reported killed in a Russian missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian city of Ternopil, emphasizing the ongoing violence since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Army spokesman Col David Butler stated, Secretary Driscoll and team arrived this morning in Kyiv on behalf of the administration on a fact-finding mission to meet Ukrainian officials and discuss efforts to end the war. The delegation includes top military officials such as Gen Randy George, the Army's chief of staff.
This visit marks the highest-level U.S. military discussions in Ukraine since Donald Trump's presidency began in January 2017.
During his trip, Driscoll met with Ukrainian Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal, who later expressed gratitude for U.S. support, including a recent $105 million approval for the PATRIOT air-defense system.
Anonymous Ukrainian officials indicated that talks would review the military situation on the ground and explore options for a potential ceasefire.
Significantly, speculation arises about the U.S. and Russia's private proposals for peace, which may require Ukraine to make territorial and military compromises.
Despite pressures, President Zelensky has firmly rejected any territorial concessions. Negotiations are ongoing as Moscow maintains demands that Ukraine deems unacceptable.
As discussions unfold, the complexity of achieving peace in the region remains stark, with recent comments from Russian officials suggesting no shifts in their stances since the invasion began.
