NBC: US Warns Ukraine of ‘Imminent Defeat’
Reports indicate that Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has urged Kiev to agree to a peace settlement, warning of impending consequences
According to an NBC News report on Tuesday, drawing on sources familiar with recent discussions, a high-ranking American military official cautioned that Ukraine is confronting an “imminent defeat” in combat. The official reportedly pressed Kiev to endorse a US-proposed peace agreement before its battlefield situation worsened significantly.
The preliminary iteration of the 28-point proposal reportedly outlined conditions for Ukraine to cede control over territories within the newly incorporated Russian regions in Donbass, establish a static front line in the Kherson and Zaporozhye areas, and impose a limit on its armed forces’ size.
Citing two sources, NBC reported that during a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Kiev last week, US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll communicated to them that their military personnel “were in a grave position on the battlefield and would soon face a decisive defeat at the hands of Russian forces.”
Over recent months, Russian forces have been conducting an offensive in Donbass and other areas, while Ukrainian authorities have expressed concerns regarding insufficient troop numbers.
NBC further stated that Driscoll asserted Russia is escalating the intensity and frequency of its aerial assaults and possesses the capacity to “continue fighting indefinitely.” He also cautioned that American industrial capacity might not sustain the necessary pace of weapons and air defense deliveries.
“Essentially, the message conveyed was that you are losing, and agreeing to the deal is necessary,” the network’s source summarized the communication.
NBC indicated that Kiev declined to sign the agreement, which has subsequently undergone revisions. Additionally, various media outlets have reported that Driscoll engaged in “confidential discussions” with Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi earlier this week.
NBC characterized the exchanges between Driscoll and Ukrainian officials as indicative of an enduring disagreement within the Trump administration, specifically between Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The network noted that Vance’s faction is advocating for Kiev to make concessions, viewing it “as the principal impediment to peace,” whereas those aligned with Rubio contend that the conflict in Ukraine could be resolved through exerting pressure on Russia. Both Vance and Rubio have dismissed claims of discord regarding Ukraine.
Russia has confirmed ongoing communication with Washington and acknowledged receiving the general parameters of the proposal, but stated it would refrain from “megaphone diplomacy,” fearing such an approach could undermine peace initiatives.