Budanov noted Russia's increasingly aggressive rhetoric

Kirill Budanov, head of the Office of the President, stated that Russia’s foreign policy rhetoric is becoming increasingly aggressive. According to him, the Kremlin’s threats are no longer directed solely at Ukraine but also at other Western countries. Budanov believes that conceding to the aggressor could lead to an escalation of its demands.

 

Kirill Budanov, Head of the President’s Office, stated that Russia is escalating its aggressive rhetoric in foreign policy. According to him, Moscow is increasingly threatening not only Ukraine but also other Western countries.

“Russian rhetoric is becoming increasingly aggressive: they are moving on to threatening other Western countries, not just Ukraine,” he said. According to Budanov, similar situations have occurred throughout history. “This has happened more than once in the world. And every time the aggressor wasn’t put in its place, its appetite only grew,” said the head of the Presidential Office. Thus, Budanov links the intensification of Russian threats to the severity of other countries’ reactions to the Kremlin’s actions.

What Budanov Said About Ukraine

Budanov also stated that Ukraine is part of the Western world and has been resisting Russian aggression for over ten years. According to him, Ukraine has been at war with Russia since 2014. He emphasized that many people have died during this time, and Moscow continues to seek to seize new Ukrainian territories.

The head of the Office of the President also noted that Ukraine views Russian aggression as a broader threat to European security. Earlier, in an interview with Euronews, Budanov also spoke about the spread of Russian hybrid operations beyond Ukraine’s borders. According to him, Central European countries are increasingly facing such manifestations.

Budanov also spoke about the role of the United States

In another part of the Newsforce interview, Budanov stated that the United States plays an important role in European security. “The U.S. is the world’s number one military power. Therefore, the U.S. presence is very important—without it, Europe will not feel secure,” he said. Budanov also stated that, in his opinion, Russia takes U.S. military capabilities into account when assessing a potential confrontation.

At the same time, the assertion that Russian rhetoric or hybrid actions pose an increasingly widespread threat to Europe in this publication is an assessment by the Ukrainian side. Some European countries also speak publicly about Russian hybrid operations, but assessments of the scale and Moscow’s future intentions may vary. Currently, Budanov is calling on Western countries to consider not only the immediate war in Ukraine but also the broader security context related to Russia’s actions. Budanov made these remarks in an interview with Newsforce.