The selection yesterday of Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR) head Kyrylo Budanov to assume the Head of the Office of the President position—vacated by Andriy Yermak during November’s corruption scandals—has raised eyebrows. Budanov’s Dec. 27, 2025 interview with Suspilne, was notable for repeated insistence upon negotiations and a reality-based decision process—quite a departure from his history of anti-Russian histrionics (such as repeatedly declaring that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be dead by a certain date) and violent wetworks. He called for serious negotiations with Russia, done privately—not for making points in public—and for the necessity for making painful, “non-standard” concessions that “will not be easy.”
In sampling some excerpts, one might wonder whether reality has intruded upon at least part of Kiev’s leadership, whether the leopard has really changed his spots?
Budanov asserted that the key to Russia’s success was their relentlessly pursuing “the offensive and maintaining its pace.” Asked how they took so much land in November, he stated: “I tell you again: The Russian Federation does not stop the offensive operation.” They are succeeding as, in Ukraine, there “are not enough people, everyone knows it.” Further, Russian industry “fully fulfills” their goals “and very often overfulfill plans.” When asked: “Is this purely their achievement, or help from North Korea or Iran?” he replied: “These are their achievements” and no one else’s.
