Ukraine-Russia talks near decisive moment, President's Office chief Budanov says
Photo: Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (Getty Images)
Negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are approaching the moment when the sides will have to make final decisions, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, says at the Justice Conference.
Read also: Zelenskyy explains why Ukraine cannot withdraw from Donbas
According to Budanov, wars such as Russia’s aggression against Ukraine do not end on their own. There are two options: a just decision or the return of war in larger and more dangerous forms.
Ukraine’s focus is on peace negotiations that will not simply stop the war, but will protect Ukrainians from a repetition of Russian aggression, he emphasized.
“It is no secret that the negotiations are not easy. But we are definitely moving forward and approaching the moment when all sides will have to make final decisions: to continue this war or move toward peace. I hope that justice will ultimately prevail,” the head of the Presidential Office said.
And now Ukraine is step by step approaching a result thanks to diplomatic efforts and the support of the United States and other partners, Budanov added. According to him, peace without accountability is a pause in hostilities, but certainly not a solution to the problem.
“Peace without consequences for the aggressor is an invitation for it to repeat it in different corners of the world and an example for all authoritarian regimes: attack, kill, destroy, and nothing will happen to you. From the point of view of global security, this is absolutely obvious,” he concluded.
Ukraine-Russia talks
At the beginning of 2026, Ukraine and Russia, with the mediation of the United States, intensified dialogue on ending the war. Several rounds of talks have already taken place in the UAE and Switzerland.
After the last round in Geneva, the sides managed to reach an understanding on military issues, in particular on monitoring a possible peace. However, on the political track, there is currently no progress. The main issue is control over the unoccupied Donbas.
The next round of negotiations may take place before the end of February, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The head of the Ukrainian delegation, Rustem Umerov, also received a task from the president ahead of the new round of negotiations with Russia.
