Today at 19:04
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the appointment of Kyrylo Budanov as Head of the Presidential Office and his inclusion in the negotiating team is aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s position in talks, UATV English reports.
“I believe that, first of all, it is inappropriate to be dissatisfied with a team that has just begun its work. Everything depends on the results of the negotiating group, which includes Kyrylo Oleksiiovych (Budanov – ed.). You know what result the state needs. I am counting on Rustem Umerov, on Kyrylo Budanov, on Davyd Arakhamia, on representatives of the intelligence services, and I also strongly rely on Andrii Hnatov and Serhii Kyslytsya,” Zelenskyy emphasized during a briefing.
The President noted that the negotiating team is working on both political and military tracks, and that its effectiveness can only be assessed later.
He also said he had not seen any specific reaction from the Russian side to Budanov’s appointment.
“I strengthened the negotiating group because I did not want the Russians and the United States to work through different channels on ending the war. In the Presidential Office, I gathered all the people with whom they (the Russian negotiating side – ed.) had been in contact at one time or another. It was very important for me that everyone work as one team. Today we have one team,” Zelenskyy stressed.
He added that the enemy always seeks parallel negotiation channels, “but we will not allow them the opportunity to divide the teams and thereby divide Ukrainian society.”
Regarding the work of the Presidential Office following Budanov’s appointment, Zelenskyy said it is functioning normally without issues. He also noted that the position of Deputy Head of the Presidential Office for economic affairs remains vacant.
Earlier, Zelenskyy confirmed that the planned trilateral round of talks between delegations of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia has not been postponed, though it may take place not in Abu Dhabi but in Europe or Turkey.
