Budanov optimistic about future of peace talks – media
Head of the Main Intelligence Agency of the Ministry of Defense Kyrylo Budanov highly appreciates the role of the United States team in the negotiations to achieve peace in the Russian-Ukrainian war and "is optimistic about the future," writes Forbes.
"Now that Budanov is personally attending, he’s in the perfect position to assess America’s intentions by reading the subtle cues and overt demands of the White House team. He was surprisingly positive: 'Actually, they have brought a new impetus and energy to the process. I can say I am optimistic about the future,'" the head of the Main Intelligence Agency said in an interview with Forbes.
At the moment, the negotiations are so multi-tiered with so many moving parts that you’d need a book to explain it all. "Multilateral and complex," is how Budanov put it, "not just simply bilateral."
The new Ukrainian team seems ready to grapple with tough, core, issues such as the status of future neutral zones and their protection from Russian absorption by what Budanov calls, "mechanism of reaction to violations." In short, real security guarantees.
In response to the question of whether intelligence sharing between the US and Ukraine continues, Budanov replied: "Yes, of course, in fact it is increasing every day."
He also commented on the course of events in the recent corruption scandal (referring to the 'Mindich tapes') that it "weakened Ukraine's credibility, its reputation and support among allies."
"The situation is stable. Most countries, these days, have corruption issues. What matters is the rule of law and the government’s procedural ability to resolve the problems in a constitutional and transparent way. Ukraine is able to do that even in the middle of an existential conflict. The people involved have been displaced and now it’s a legal process," Budanov said.
"The relationship with the US is crucial to Ukraine, in the present and in the future. But it’s a multi-stage process over decades to come. We as a nation made one of our civilizational choices in the direction of the US. We understand that both sides should benefit from the relationship short and long term on many levels including trade and joint development and communications and much else. There was a time when Ukraine was one of the most industrially developed countries in the world. We can return to that status. It’s time to get back what we lost. That is our vision and determination. I am optimistic that we will do it," Budanov concluded.
