Head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office: conditions for a ceasefire are unlikely before spring 2027

Head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov stated that conditions for a ceasefire with Russia will not be achieved before spring 2027.

He said this in an interview with The New York Times.

“Russia will try to break Ukraine this winter through another strategic bombing campaign. However, negotiations will sooner or later lead to something. It is impossible to fight forever,” — Budanov said.

According to him, official negotiations between Ukraine and Russia have reached a deadlock, but non-public contacts at a lower level have continued.

According to the publication, Budanov regularly communicated with the head of Russia’s military intelligence (GRU), Admiral Igor Kostyukov. They first made contact in 2022 to open corridors in the Black Sea for grain exporters.

“Over these years we have managed to accomplish a great deal, including on the issue of prisoners of war,” — Budanov noted.

The head of the Presidential Office also spoke about negotiations in Abu Dhabi that took place in January–February. According to him, the peace plan between Ukraine and Russia has effectively come down to two key issues — control over the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and part of Donbas.