By Janet Ekstract, ISTANBUL – According to a number of U.S. officials, a delegation of senior Pentagon officials and the Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll arrived in Kyiv, Ukraine on November 19 on a fact-finding mission to discusll military technology and focus on ways to restart peace talks. The delegation includes Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, the commander of U.S. Army Europe and Africa Gen. Chris Donahue and Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer. In a statement issued on November 19, Army spokesman Colonel David Butler said: “Secretary Driscoll and team arrived this morning in Kyiv on behalf of the administration on a fact-finding mission to meet with Ukrainian officials and discuss efforts to end the war.” Driscoll is expected to see Ukraine’s technology from the Ukrainian military and defense industry, a defense official told the press. Driscoll will also meet with top Ukrainian leaders and is scheduled to meet Ukraine’s President Zelensky to attempt to restart negotiations.
CBS News was informed by a Ukrainian official that the primary focus of the visit is to be on the military situation on the ground as well as plans for a possible ceasefire. The official added that Driscoll’s visit “is extremely important, as we are stepping into a decisive phase now.” “President Zelensky and Trump have already agreed to stop the conflict along existing lines of engagement and there are agreements on granting security guarantees,” the Ukrainian official said. The official also said that Ukraine spoke with a group of over 30 countries that support its efforts, adding “Ukraine has also held talks with the ”Coalition of the Willing” on the security guarantees.” Meanwhile, Driscoll told “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” last Sunday that Ukraine’s use of drones and AI technology is an “incredible treasure trove of information for future warfare.” Driscoll referred to the stunning surprise attack launched in June by Ukraine, deep inside Russia- Operation Spider’s Web – which used what Driscoll said are a “couple hundred thousand dollars worth of drones” that destroyed Russian equipment valued at about $10 billion.
