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Ukraine’s top spy states that ceasefire is possible in 2025
(MENAFN) Kirill Budanov, Ukraine’s top military intelligence officer, has stated that a ceasefire could be achieved in the country within this year, despite the “diametrically opposed” positions of both sides in the conflict. However, he expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of peacekeepers, claiming that he couldn’t recall any past conflict where their deployment had proven successful. While some NATO members have expressed willingness to send troops to Ukraine after the war, Moscow has firmly rejected this possibility.
Budanov’s comments came after high-level US-Russia talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which focused on restoring relations and discussing potential peace talks. Ukraine and the EU were excluded from the discussions, with Kiev insisting that any peace agreement without its involvement would not be recognized.
Budanov, speaking to Hromadske news outlet, suggested that a ceasefire could occur this year, though its duration and effectiveness remain uncertain. He also clarified previous media reports suggesting that he had warned Ukraine might not survive without negotiations with Russia by the summer, labeling those reports as false and taken out of context.
Budanov emphasized that NATO membership remains Ukraine’s only true security guarantee, while all other options should only be seen as “commitments to support.” Ukrainian President Zelensky had earlier proposed a foreign peacekeeping force of at least 200,000 troops to ensure security, but European NATO allies are reportedly considering a much smaller force. Zelensky dismissed the smaller proposal as insufficient.
Meanwhile, the US has ruled out military involvement or NATO peacekeeping in Ukraine. Russia has previously stated that it views any European peacekeeping force as a provocative act that could escalate the conflict. Moscow also insists that any peace agreement must address core issues, including Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, the renouncement of its claims to Crimea, and four other regions now part of Russia following 2022 referendums.
Budanov’s comments came after high-level US-Russia talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which focused on restoring relations and discussing potential peace talks. Ukraine and the EU were excluded from the discussions, with Kiev insisting that any peace agreement without its involvement would not be recognized.
Budanov, speaking to Hromadske news outlet, suggested that a ceasefire could occur this year, though its duration and effectiveness remain uncertain. He also clarified previous media reports suggesting that he had warned Ukraine might not survive without negotiations with Russia by the summer, labeling those reports as false and taken out of context.
Budanov emphasized that NATO membership remains Ukraine’s only true security guarantee, while all other options should only be seen as “commitments to support.” Ukrainian President Zelensky had earlier proposed a foreign peacekeeping force of at least 200,000 troops to ensure security, but European NATO allies are reportedly considering a much smaller force. Zelensky dismissed the smaller proposal as insufficient.
Meanwhile, the US has ruled out military involvement or NATO peacekeeping in Ukraine. Russia has previously stated that it views any European peacekeeping force as a provocative act that could escalate the conflict. Moscow also insists that any peace agreement must address core issues, including Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, the renouncement of its claims to Crimea, and four other regions now part of Russia following 2022 referendums.
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