Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Office of the President, has identified establishing effective negotiations with Russia as his primary objective. In an interview with the Arab media outlet Al-Modon, he discussed the current state of diplomatic efforts amid ongoing conflict.
When asked about the potential for his participation in presidential elections should a ceasefire occur, Budanov stated that his focus remains on facilitating negotiations. He remarked, “My task now is to establish an effective negotiation process. Discussing elections under the current circumstances is pointless.” This underscores the urgency of addressing immediate diplomatic challenges over political considerations.
Budanov asserted that Russia would ultimately be compelled to accept security guarantees for Ukraine from the United States, regardless of the Kremlin’s preferences. He noted that a proposal from former President Donald Trump has enabled discussions about achieving genuine peace for the first time since the onset of the full-scale war.
On the topic of sanctions and reparations, Budanov expressed his belief that economic pressure on Russia should continue even after hostilities cease. He emphasized that this is crucial to prevent Russia from rebuilding its military capabilities. Furthermore, he stated that frozen assets and future revenues from Russia should be allocated for reparations to Ukraine.
Discussing the military situation, Budanov pointed out that despite Russia’s ambitions to control all of Ukraine, the Russian army has failed to fully occupy any part of the country throughout the 12 years of conflict. He credited the Ukrainian armed forces as the only effective deterrent against Russian advances.
Regarding the timeline for ending the war, Budanov acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stating that it is “difficult and multifaceted,” making it impossible to predict exact dates for resolution at this time.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Office of the President, emphasizes the need for effective negotiations with Russia, prioritizing diplomatic efforts over political ambitions. He also discusses the importance of ongoing sanctions against Russia and the allocation of frozen assets for reparations to Ukraine.
Source: РБК-Україна