What Ukraine can expect from Trump's new envoy Dan Driscoll

Driscoll is reportedly due to be returning to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv for the second time in a week to negotiate the peace plan proposed by the US. On Tuesday, Trump announced: "In the hopes of finalizing this peace plan, I have directed my special envoy Steve Witkoff to meet with President Putin in Moscow and, at the same time, Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will be meeting with the Ukrainians. I will be briefed on all progress made."

There are several bones of contention in the plan, including the question of whether and to what extent Ukraine should cede territories to Russia, and whether the state should be permanently barred from NATO membership.

What should Ukrainian negotiators be prepared for?

According to media reports, Driscoll tried to intimidate his Ukrainian interlocutors by issuing threats that allegedly originated from Russia during his first visit on November 20. According to the US broadcaster NBC, he told Ukrainian representatives that their forces on the battlefield would "suffer an imminent defeat."

He also apparently said that Russia was ramping up the scale of its airstrikes and had the ability to fight on indefinitely. He told the Ukrainians that since the situation would only get worse, it would be better for Ukraine to negotiate a peace settement now. According to media reports, European diplomats were also present to witness the presentation of the plan.

"People who have met him — especially Europeans — report that Driscoll blackmails, issues ultimatums, and is difficult to approach," said Ivan Us of Ukraine's National Institute for Strategic Studies. "The talks about a peace plan show that he only does what Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, want. If he is told a peace plan must be implemented, he will simply do it."

Us said that Driscoll came across as someone who has no sympathy for Ukraine, and was determined to push the Ukrainians to make the decisions his leadership needs. "He doesn't want to deviate from his leadership's line. Therefore, one should not expect him to take any initiatives of his own," Us told DW.