Presidential Office denies reports of clash with Witkoff, warns of attacks on peace talks
Photo: Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov (Getty Images)
Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov, has warned of information attacks targeting the negotiation process. He denied, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine, reports about details of conversations during the talks that have recently appeared in the media.
“As for the alleged insider reports about the details of our conversations, that information is false. Nothing of the sort happened. We are currently witnessing information attacks targeting the negotiation process.
“It is important to keep a cool head and remember our key goal: lasting peace for Ukraine. We are doing everything we can to achieve it,” the head of the Presidential Office said.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office
What Le Monde reported about the talks
Earlier, the French newspaper Le Monde published a report about an allegedly tense episode during talks between Ukrainian and American delegations on October 9.
According to the publication, which cited an unnamed person present at the negotiations, US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a so-called “regional prosperity plan.” It reportedly envisaged fully restoring Russian gas and oil transit to Europe through Ukrainian territory, with Kyiv receiving dividends in return.
The source cited by Le Monde claimed that Witkoff described the proposal as beneficial to both sides.
The media outlet also described Budanov’s alleged sharp reaction to the initiative. According to the source, he said, “Our model is not Belarus, but Poland!” before interrupting the talks and calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The newspaper also reported, citing its source, that the negotiations were definitively broken off after the Ukrainian delegation learned about a “diesel deal” that US President Donald Trump had recently reached with Russia.
“Accept this diesel fuel deal and stop striking Russian oil refineries! You are putting the world at risk!” Witkoff reportedly told the Ukrainians in frustration, according to the source.
The US-Russia diesel deal
On October 9, US President Donald Trump announced that he had had a “great conversation” with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and that they had reached an agreement on supplying Russian diesel fuel to the global market.
Following the announcement, the US Treasury Department issued a temporary general license authorizing the relevant supplies.
The agreement drew criticism, including in the United States. American lawmakers introduced a bill aimed at blocking the Russian diesel deal.
