Kyiv – A newly appointed U.S. envoy is intensifying pressure on Ukraine to accelerate peace talks with Russia, signaling a potential shift in the Trump management’s strategy for resolving the ongoing conflict. Daniel Patrick Driscoll, the current U.S. Army Secretary and expected successor to Special Envoy General keith Kellogg in early 2026, has reportedly adopted a forceful approach, emphasizing the urgency of a negotiated settlement even as fighting continues [[1]]. The push comes amid reports of internal maneuvering within the administration, with the outcome of these negotiations perhaps impacting the standing of key figures like Vice President J.D. Vance [[1]].
Kyiv – A new U.S. envoy is pressing Ukrainian officials to accelerate peace negotiations with Russia, raising questions about the Trump administration’s approach to the ongoing conflict. The push comes as a potential shift in strategy looms with a change in special envoys expected in the coming months.
Daniel Patrick Driscoll, the current U.S. Army Secretary, is reportedly taking a hardline approach in discussions with Ukrainian negotiators, emphasizing what he sees as the inevitability of battlefield setbacks and the need for a swift agreement. He is expected to become Donald Trump’s next special envoy to Ukraine, succeeding General Keith Kellogg, who is anticipated to step down in early 2026.
“No Independent Initiative” Expected from Driscoll
Driscoll arrived in Kyiv for his second visit this week to negotiate a peace plan presented by the United States. According to Trump, Driscoll and Ukrainian representatives will resolve “several existing points of contention” within the plan. Simultaneously, U.S. Special Representative Steve Witkoff is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to address similar issues. Key sticking points include potential territorial concessions to Russia and the possibility of Ukraine’s permanent exclusion from NATO.
Reports suggest Driscoll has adopted a forceful tactic in his dealings with Ukrainian officials. NBC News reported that during his first visit to Kyiv on November 20, Driscoll warned Ukrainian representatives of an impending military defeat, citing Russia’s capacity for sustained attacks and escalating aerial bombardments. He argued that Ukraine’s situation would only worsen, making a peace agreement the most viable option.
European diplomats who attended a presentation of the plan have also described Driscoll’s approach as coercive. “Those who have met him, especially Europeans, say Driscoll blackmails, issues ultimatums, and is difficult to reach,” said Ivan Us of the Ukrainian Institute for Strategic Studies. “The conversations about a peace plan demonstrate that he simply does what Trump and his Vice President, J.D. Vance, want. If they tell him to implement the peace plan, he simply will.”
Us believes Driscoll shows little empathy for Ukraine, prioritizing the demands of the Trump administration. “He doesn’t want to deviate from the line dictated by his leadership. Therefore, no independent initiative should be expected from him,” he told DW. This approach underscores the Trump administration’s firm control over the negotiation process.
However, one source familiar with the discussions told DW that Driscoll is not entirely inflexible. “Driscoll has a reputation for being a battering ram. But that’s not entirely true, because he was open to discussions and comments and agreed in cases where the changes were perfectly logical,” the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. “He is very results-oriented. But he is clearly a man of Vice President J. D. Vance, and the connection with him is apparently very close.”
The close relationship between Driscoll and Vance, who both attended Yale University and are longtime friends, is reportedly a key factor in Driscoll’s appointment. “Within Trump’s inner circle, the power struggle is intensifying in the run-up to the future elections. Whoever achieves the best result in negotiating a peace agreement in Ukraine will be able to flaunt it as a badge of rank. And therefore, will significantly alter the balance of power within the team,” the source explained.
Critics also contend that Driscoll and other Trump administration officials involved in the peace talks lack a nuanced understanding of the historical context of Russia’s war against Ukraine, particularly its colonial dimensions. Many are reportedly focusing on economic solutions, which observers say may not be sufficient.
Driscoll in Kyiv: “But Ultimately, Trump Will Decide”
“Driscoll continues Trump’s tradition of having a military figure address the problem of Ukraine,” says Oleksandr Krayev of the Ukrainian Prisma Studies Centre. “On the one hand, that’s positive because it is a military matter.” However, he is significantly different from Keith Kellogg, “both in terms of his views and authority, and in terms of his position.”
Ukraine hopes Driscoll will inject new momentum into the negotiation process for a peaceful resolution. But “this is not an ideal solution for Ukraine. Because Driscoll lacks experience in diplomatic affairs; he is a bureaucrat who wants to advance his career,” Krayev observed. The appointment signals a potential shift towards a more transactional approach to the conflict.
Driscoll is expected to revisit “sensitive issues” from the peace plan that were not fully addressed during talks in Geneva with Ukrainian leaders this weekend. Experts anticipate he will continue to urge Ukraine to accept the plan as quickly as possible.
Ultimately, after Driscoll’s visit to Kyiv, the peace plan must be debated and finally approved by the presidents of the United States and Ukraine, Krayev emphasizes. “Driscoll is just another special envoy, another person with very vague and confused powers who deals with matters that are toxic to Donald Trump,” the Ukrainian expert on North America said. “But ultimately, only Trump will decide on all matters relating to Ukraine.”
(el/rml)
