Budanov explained why Ukraine is not disclosing its contacts with Russia
Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, stated that Ukraine is deliberately not disclosing details of its unofficial contacts with the Russian side.
According to him, keeping such negotiations confidential is critical for maintaining and strengthening Kyiv’s position in future talks.
In an interview with Bloomberg, he emphasized that some of the Russian representatives participating in these closed communication channels are acting pragmatically and have a clear understanding of the actual balance of power.
According to Budanov, Ukraine maintains limited and informal contacts with Russian representatives who have a practical understanding of the situation on the front lines and the resource capabilities of both sides.
He emphasized that these communication channels are important for assessing Russia’s positions and potential scenarios for the development of events.
Budanov also explained why the details of the negotiations remain classified. According to him, disclosing information or putting pressure on the Russian participants in these contacts could have negative consequences for Ukraine.
"In the worst-case scenario, they will be removed and executed. And this will only weaken our position. Because those who come next—even if they want to achieve something—will look at what happened to their predecessors and will never agree to anything," Budanov noted.
Additionally, Bloomberg revealed Budanov’s style in negotiations with Russia.
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