In a dramatic development that has sent shockwaves through diplomatic circles, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll delivered a stark warning to Ukrainian officials during a high-stakes meeting in Kyiv last week, stating that Ukraine faces imminent defeat unless the current military trajectory changes significantly.
Brutal Assessment of Battlefield Reality
According to sources familiar with the discussion reported by NBC News, Driscoll's message was uncompromisingly direct. Ukrainian forces are under increasing pressure as Russia has significantly escalated both the scale and pace of aerial attacks, creating a critical situation on the front lines.
The US Army Secretary reportedly told Ukrainian officials that the Russians possess the capability to sustain their military campaign indefinitely, painting a grim picture of Ukraine's prospects if the current pattern continues. One source summarized the essence of Driscoll's message bluntly: "The message was basically — you are losing. And you need to accept the deal."
Controversial Peace Proposal Sparks Outrage
Accompanying this bleak military assessment was the presentation of a new US-backed peace plan that Ukrainian officials immediately viewed as dangerously tilted toward Moscow. The proposal, according to multiple sources, demanded significant concessions from Kyiv and accepted several of Russia's maximalist demands.
Ukrainian officials perceived the plan as pressuring them to concede from a position of weakness, with many viewing it as tantamount to capitulation rather than a negotiated settlement. The terms were considered politically and strategically unacceptable by numerous stakeholders in Ukraine.
Adding to the controversy, the diplomatic situation intensified when a purported 28-point US peace plan leaked to media outlets. This document, officials revealed, was shaped during discussions in Miami between Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev and US envoy Steve Witkoff.
Unconventional Diplomacy and Ukrainian Response
In an unusual diplomatic move, the White House selected Driscoll—a military official rather than a career diplomat—to present the peace plan in Kyiv. Driscoll, who attended Yale Law School with Senator J.D. Vance, was already scheduled to visit Ukraine for discussions related to drone technology.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to the proposal with "grave doubts," according to officials briefed on the meeting. However, he avoided outright rejection, emphasizing that Kyiv remains willing to engage in diplomatic discussions but not on terms viewed as surrender.
The US delegation also delivered another concerning message: America's defense industry can no longer supply weapons and air defense systems at the level required to hold off Russian advances and protect Ukraine's population and infrastructure.
Following Ukraine's rejection of the initial proposal, US officials confirm that the peace plan has undergone substantial revisions. While Kyiv hasn't closed the door on negotiations, Ukrainian officials maintain that any plan legitimizing Russia's territorial claims or undermining Ukrainian sovereignty will be unacceptable.
