The delegations of Ukraine and Russia are holding direct peace talks in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Sources from the Axios publication stated that both delegations are led by the heads of intelligence services. The Ukrainian group, led by Kirill Budanov, is holding discussions with both the American delegation, which is mediating the negotiation process, and the Russian one, reports IPN.

The meeting of the heads of the secret services of Russia and Ukraine in Abu Dhabi was previously planned. The discussions were supposed to cover another topic, but the visit of the US Army Secretary, Dan Driscoll, to Abu Dhabi, which came as a “surprise” to both parties, changed their plans, reports Axios.

Dan Driscoll’s spokesperson, Jeff Tolbert, confirmed that the American secretary is in talks with the Russian delegation. “The discussions are going well and we remain optimistic,” said the American official.

Negotiations between the American and Russian delegations in Abu Dhabi regarding the peace plan proposed by the USA began on Monday evening, according to the Financial Times publication. Russia was presented with a draft of the peace plan, developed in Geneva.

The discussions in Geneva took place after Washington submitted to Kiev a project that included, among other things, certain concessions and conditions for the Ukrainian side.