Budanov Says War Could End Soon as US Envoys Set to Visit Kyiv Next Week

Ukraine’s top negotiator, Kyrylo Budanov, said talks with Russia are progressing and a deal to end the war may not take long, as Kyiv expects senior US envoys to visit soon. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied A Ukrainian serviceman of the 225th Separate Assault Battalion patrols as he walks past an apartment building destroyed by artillery fire in the town of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, on July 24, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Anatolii STEPANOV / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s head of the Presidential Office and the country’s key negotiator, said the war with Russia may not last much longer, expressing optimism that ongoing talks could soon lead to a settlement. “They all understand the war needs to end. That’s why they are negotiating,” Budanov said in an interview to Bloomberg , published on Friday, April 10. “I don’t think it will be long.” Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . Budanov, who now heads the presidential office after previously leading Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR), said negotiations involving Ukraine, the US and Russia are gradually moving toward compromise despite limited public progress. While both sides still hold “maximalist” positions, he said there is now a clearer understanding of acceptable limits – which he described as a major step forward. He also said Ukraine expects senior US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to visit Kyiv, possibly as early as next week. According to Budanov, the visit would mark their first trip to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion and is expected to focus on security guarantees and the framework of a potential peace deal. Budanov noted that keeping the US engaged in the negotiation process is one of Kyiv’s key achievements. At the same time, he acknowledged that no final decisions have been made, particularly on territorial issues – the most sensitive topic in the talks, where Moscow has pushed for Kyiv’s withdrawal from the rest of the Donetsk region after failing to capture it militarily. Other Topics of Interest Joint Ukrainian Operation Hits Russian S-300V System, UAV Command Node Ukrainian forces say a coordinated multi-service joint operation hit a Russian S-300V (NATO: SA-12 “Gladiator”) system, UAV control point, and electronic warfare assets in the Zaporizhzhia sector. Despite ongoing negotiations, Budanov warned that both scenarios remain possible. “There are only two options – war or peace,” he said, adding that continuing talks depend on whether both sides are willing to compromise. On Thursday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia, and the US have been postponed as Washington shifts its focus to the Middle East. Russia on Thursday announced a 32-hour ceasefire between April 11 and April 12, without referring to Kyiv’s earlier appeals , and Kyiv later confirmed that it is willing to reciprocate. Yuliia Zavadska is a news writer at Kyiv Post. She has experience in breaking news coverage, fact-checking, and digital journalism, with a focus on fast, accurate reporting and clear storytelling. Before joining Kyiv Post, she worked as a news feed editor for several leading Ukrainian media outlets.