Budanov announced progress in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine

The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that "tremendous progress" has been made in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and that a settlement to the war may not take long. He made this statement in an interview with Bloomberg on April 4 and published on April 10.

According to Budanov, both sides are interested in ending the conflict. He noted that both Russian and Ukrainian sides understand the need to end the war, which explains the ongoing negotiations. He also expressed the opinion that the settlement process may not drag on.

Budanov also stated that Russia is financing the military operations with its own resources, citing significant financial costs, which, according to him, have already reached trillions. He noted that this factor could contribute to Moscow's desire to end the conflict.

Speaking about the progress of the negotiations, Budanov emphasized that the parties had previously adhered to "maximalist" positions, but that progress toward compromise was currently being observed. However, he did not specify the possible parameters of an agreement on Donbas, where Russia demands the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from controlled territories. According to him, a final decision has not yet been made, but the parties already understand the limits of acceptable agreements, which he called significant progress.

Commenting on Russia's military potential, Budanov stated that the country has no difficulty replacing losses and, by the end of 2025, could mobilize up to 23.5 million troops if necessary. He noted that this significantly exceeds Ukraine's capabilities, which is facing a shortage of military personnel.

At the same time, some Russian officials disagreed with Budanov's assessment. According to sources close to the Kremlin, there has been virtually no real progress in the negotiations, and the dialogue is complicated by the lack of compromise on security guarantees for Kyiv. They claim that by 2026, the parties had merely outlined positions that remain mutually unacceptable.

Budanov also commented on the possible breakdown of negotiations, noting that there are two possible scenarios: continued war or achieving peace through negotiations. He also admitted that the Russian side may not agree to further negotiations.