Head of Zelenskyy's Office names his main task in negotiations with Russia
Photo: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the President’s Office (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Head of the President’s Office Kyrylo Budanov said that organizing effective negotiations with Russia is his primary task, according to an interview with the Arab media outlet Al-Modon.
Priorities and negotiations
Responding to a question about possible participation in presidential elections in the event of a hypothetical ceasefire, Budanov emphasized that he is currently focused on his work within the framework of negotiations.
"My task right now is to establish an effective negotiation process. Talking about elections under the current circumstances is pointless," he said.
According to Budanov, Russia will be forced during the negotiations to accept security guarantees for Ukraine from the United States, regardless of the Kremlin’s wishes. He added that Trump’s plan made it possible, for the first time since the beginning of the full-scale war, to discuss the establishment of a genuine peace.
Sanctions and reparations
The Head of the President’s Office expressed confidence that economic pressure on Russia should not be lifted even after the end of hostilities. This is necessary to prevent Russia from rebuilding its arsenal.
At the same time, the aggressor’s frozen assets and future revenues should be used for reparations to Ukraine.
Situation on the battlefield
Budanov noted that although the Kremlin seeks to control all of Ukraine, the Russian army has failed to fully occupy any part of Ukraine over 12 years of war. He called the Armed Forces of Ukraine the only real deterrent factor.
As for the timeline of ending the war by next summer, the Head of the President’s Office stressed that the process is "complex and multifaceted," making it impossible to set specific dates at this stage.
Negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States
Ukraine, Russia, and the United States have held three rounds of peace talks. A new meeting of the three countries’ teams is expected to take place in early March.
Today, February 26, a preparatory meeting was held in Geneva, attended by Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov and the US President’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.
The American delegation also held a separate meeting in Geneva with the Kremlin’s special representative Kirill Dmitriev.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that the main directive for the negotiation team is not to devalue the struggle and courage demonstrated by Ukrainian soldiers.
