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Ukraine’s military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov says Kyiv has managed to maintain strategic alignment with Washington, even amid complex moments.
Speaking to KyivPost, Budanov emphasized that diplomacy and direct contacts with U.S. presidential advisers have influenced U.S. decisions on Ukraine aid.
“Through diplomacy and connections with the U.S. President’s circle, we were able to influence his stance.
These efforts led to a shift in U.S. policy and helped balance both nations’ interests,” Budanov said.
He credited Keith Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine, as playing a key role.
“Kellogg was among the first to push for supplying F-16s, ATACMS, Patriot systems, and interceptors to Ukraine,” Budanov noted.
“This helped save thousands of Ukrainian lives, primarily civilians.”
Budanov highlighted that Kellogg’s approach aligns with the ‘America First’ principle:
“Supporting Ukraine allows the U.S. to strategically weaken Russia without deploying American troops.”
Despite occasional tensions, Budanov stressed confidence in long-term U.S.–Ukraine ties:
“I’ve never lost optimism. America is our friend. Even in difficult moments, we’ve always found common ground.”
