Surprise envoy pushing Ukraine ‘peace’ plan belies Vance influence on US policy

Army secretary Daniel Driscoll presented a Russian wishlist, highlighting differences with the administration

The US army secretary, Daniel Driscoll, was an unlikely envoy for the Trump administration's newest proposal to end the Russian invasion of Ukraine - but his ties to JD Vance have put a close ally of the Eurosceptic vice-president on the frontlines of Donald Trump's latest push to end the war.

Before his trip to Kyiv last week, Driscoll was not known for his role as a negotiator or statesman, and his early efforts at selling the deal to European policymakers were described as turbulent. He is currently in Abu Dhabi, where Russian and Ukrainian delegations have arrived for talks.