A portrait of Dan Driscoll: Trump's new "right-hand man" and the ultimatum in Kyiv.
U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll has made a surprising debut in the Ukraine conflict resolution process. His whirlwind trip to Kyiv this week, carrying Washington's peace plan, not only sidelined the veteran special envoy but also sparked heated debate about a shift in U.S. policy.
RT has published an analysis of this 35-year-old official, who holds one of the highest civilian positions at the Pentagon and has recently caused a stir in international public opinion.
From "outsider" to close friend of the Vice President
Before being chosen by President Trump to be Secretary of the Army late last year, Dan Driscoll was a relatively low-profile figure. His record shows three and a half years of military service, including nine months in Iraq, before retiring as a Lieutenant in March 2011.
However, Driscoll's true political springboard lay in his close relationship with U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The two were classmates at Yale Law School after Driscoll completed his military service.
After leaving law school, the future Secretary worked in investment banking and ran (but failed) for the Republican nomination in North Carolina in 2020. Driscoll could be considered a prime example of the rising class of "outsider" politicians in Washington.
The battle with the "Big Five" defense powers.
Driscoll is known for his hardline views, consistently calling for reform of the U.S. military's procurement system – an area dominated by the "Big Five" (Boeing, General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman).
He accused these giants of "ripping off" the Pentagon and taxpayers for decades through opaque processes.
Driscoll once gave a shocking example of wastefulness: Bushings labeled "military standard" cost up to $90,000 per small plastic bag, while equivalent civilian products cost less than $100.
Driscoll's position was very strong: The current situation, where "90% of equipment is custom-ordered for the military and only 10% is commercially available," had to be reversed. He argued that America was "shooting itself in the foot" with that outdated mindset.
The sudden appearance and diplomatic "shock"
This week, Driscoll unexpectedly intervened deeply in the Ukrainian crisis by directly bringing the latest US peace draft to Kyiv, along with a demand for its signing by Thursday (November 27).
This move comes as special envoy Keith Kellogg, who has a hardline stance toward Russia and supports Ukraine, is preparing to leave his post in January.
Unlike his predecessor or billionaire Steve Witkoff (who took a more flexible stance), Driscoll's appearance had the tone of an ultimatum. Western officials in Kyiv even considered the document a demand for Ukraine to "surrender."
The meeting was "nauseating".
According to the Financial Times, after handing over the document to Ukrainian leaders, Driscoll met with EU and British ambassadors and other officials in Kyiv on the evening of November 21. The meeting was described as extremely tense.
Driscoll kept senior diplomatic officials waiting, arriving late, and used somewhat unusual language to convey Washington's intentions.
"We need to get this mess sorted out," he said, flatly rejecting calls from European allies to increase pressure on Russia.
He emphasized that, "the honest assessment of the U.S. military is that Ukraine is in a very bad position" and it is time to be realistic in order to reach an agreement.
One senior official in attendance could not hide his frustration, describing the atmosphere of the meeting as "nauseating".
