HUR-era sources give Budanov insight into Russian negotiators
Kyrylo Budanov acknowledged that no specific date has yet been set for new talks with the Russians. (Photo: 24 Kanal/YouTube/screenshot from video)
Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov said
his years leading the HUR military intelligence agency have helped him in peace
negotiations with Russia because he still has access to informants and
influential figures there.
In an interview with The
Times, Budanov said those Russian contacts provide him with inside
information about the strengths, weaknesses and “red lines” of his negotiating
counterparts.
“We dealt with them for many years, so believe me, I know
how to talk to them,” he said.
The Times reported that Budanov built a system for
negotiating prisoner exchanges, often relying on unofficial communication
channels inside Russia.
Budanov said those same channels are now proving useful in
peace talks.
He also acknowledged that no date has been set for a new
round of negotiations.
Ukraine-Russia peace talks
After trilateral meetings in early 2026, talks in the
Ukraine-Russia-US format stalled amid the war in Iran.
National Security and Defense Council Secretary Rustem
Umerov met with US representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the
United States on May 7.
The same day, the Kremlin said it considered trilateral
talks in the US-Ukraine-Russia format pointless until Ukraine withdraws its
troops from the part of Donbas it controls.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin unexpectedly said on May 9
that the war in Ukraine was “nearing its end.” Russia resumed attacks on
Ukraine immediately after a three-day ceasefire ended on May 11.
US President Donald Trump said on May 12 that the end of the
war in Ukraine was “very close.” He planned to discuss the issue during a
meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing.
The Kremlin repeated its ultimatum on May 13, demanding that
Ukrainian forces withdraw from Donbas, a demand President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
has said Ukraine will never accept.
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