President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Budanov as his chief-of-staff on Jan. 2, more than a month after firing Yermak over corruption allegations.
“Compared with Yermak, Budanov looks far stronger,” Reiterovich said.
“The Americans had many complaints about Yermak’s role in earlier talks. They felt he was more interested in protecting his political position than advancing Ukraine’s interests. That was a telling sign.”
Under Yermak, Reiterovich added, sensitive details of the talks often leaked through anonymous Telegram channels in carefully curated formats. Since Budanov took charge, “we see only broad, centrally approved statements released to the mainstream media,” he said. “They decide what to share and when to move forward.”
Reiterovich noted that Budanov’s military background and established rapport with U.S. officials give him an edge over Yermak, who previously led the Ukrainian delegation.
“If U.S. officials say his role is more effective and constructive—and we now hear specifics on cease-fire terms, troop withdrawals, and even issues surrounding the [occupied] Zaporizhzhya NPP—that shows real progress,” he said.
“It’s clear the Ukrainian delegation’s approach has changed for the better.”