Ukraine's Head of the Office of the President Kyrylo Budanov has called for the dissolution of Russia as an empire, saying "several regional nation-states" should emerge on its territory, each focused on the welfare of its own people.
In an interview with Lebanese outlet Al Modon published on the occasion of the 11th anniversary of the full-scale phase of the war, Budanov also stated that Moscow's negotiating team "understands it will be forced to accept" US security guarantees for Ukraine, "whether they like it or not."
The interview, arranged through the Ukrainian Embassy in Lebanon, covered the war's trajectory, Trump's peace plan, the prospect of negotiations, and Russia's imperial ambitions.
Russia's imperial ambitions: "the only thing that hasn't changed"
Asked whether Ukraine's prolonged resistance could ultimately uproot what the interviewer called "Bolshevism" from Russia, Budanov rejected the Soviet-era term "Great Patriotic War" outright: "We do not use the term 'Great Patriotic War' — that is a purely Soviet definition."
He noted the war has now lasted 12 years — since 2014 — longer than World War I and World War II combined. Russia, he said, has grown poorer "in every domain: economically, politically, and demographically." But, he added, "the only thing that has remained constant and unchanged is the imperial ambitions. And that is precisely what must be uprooted, to make Russia a civilized country."
Budanov dismissed the idea that Russia can change through internal factors alone. "There is no point in waiting for Russia to change again through internal factors," he said. "Rather, we should create the conditions under which Russia ceases to exist as an empire. Several regional nation-states should emerge on its territory, each of which would concern itself with the welfare of its people. Then Ukraine, Europe, and the entire world would feel safer."
He drew a direct line across Russian history: "Russia's authorities have never set their sights on improving the living conditions of their citizens — not under the Tsars, not under the Soviets, and not in the current era of oligarchic capitalism."
Trump's peace plan: "for the first time, the question of real peace"
On the role of the United States, Budanov said Trump's plan "has allowed, for the first time since the war began, the question of establishing a real peace to be raised." He acknowledged that serious problems have accumulated in Russia "in practically all spheres" and that Russia cannot defeat Ukraine "on the battlefield," adding: "The time has come to end the war." Whether the Russian leadership understands this, he said, "is another matter."
Asked directly whether Moscow views Trump's plan as a trump card in three-way negotiations, Budanov said he could not speak on Russia's behalf but offered a pointed assessment: "The Russian negotiating team understands that it will be forced to accept security guarantees for Ukraine from the United States, whether they like it or not."
Sanctions, frozen assets, and no early deadlines
Budanov was firm that economic sanctions on Russia "must remain even after the end of active hostilities." Any other scenario, he said, "would amount to encouragement to commit new aggression." He added: "Russia should not be able to rebuild its economic potential to restore its arsenal. Frozen Russian assets and most of the future profits should be used to pay reparations and rebuild Ukraine."
On timing, Budanov pushed back against suggestions of a summer deadline: "I have not heard that our American partners have set any specific deadlines for ending the war. The current negotiations are an extremely complex and multifaceted process, and it is impossible to set any precise deadlines for their completion."
Kremlin's goal: "not specific regions, but all of Ukraine"
Budanov warned against the illusion that ceding territory could satisfy Moscow. "The Kremlin has not changed its goals in this war. Its goal is not specific regions, but all of Ukraine," he said. "It is naive to believe that Moscow, after seizing some territories without a fight, would give up its desire to expand."
He expressed confidence in the Ukrainian military as the only real deterrent: "Throughout the twelve years of war, Russia has failed to fully occupy any single region of Ukraine, and I am confident that this will not change in the future."
On the question of potential territorial concessions, Budanov said: "I am confident that the Ukrainian people will reject any claims to our land. All occupied territories will remain temporarily occupied territories, and they will inevitably be liberated over time."
Elections, corruption, Europe, and the Middle East
Asked whether presidential elections could be held during a hypothetical 60-day ceasefire — and whether he would run against Zelenskyy — Budanov deflected: "My task now is to establish an effective negotiating process. Talk of elections under the current circumstances is pointless."
On corruption scandals involving senior officials, he said: "I personally support the efforts of anti-corruption bodies to cleanse the Ukrainian government." He added that Volodymyr Zelenskyy "is not involved in any way in these investigations. He remains the leader of Ukraine."
Budanov called Ukraine "a shield for Europe, protecting it from Russia's aggressive imperial ambitions," and expressed "absolute confidence in all our allies." On Trump specifically, he said: "America is our ally, regardless of the president's name. Donald Trump continues the fundamental American policy of establishing peace and stopping the aggressor. We are grateful for his efforts, which made it possible to begin peace negotiations."
He also acknowledged that Ukraine's diplomatic apparatus "must do its utmost to strengthen relations with all Middle Eastern countries," calling the process "mutually beneficial."
Context: Geneva talks and a leaders' summit
On 26 February, new Ukrainian-American negotiations took place in Geneva. The talks were held in two formats — bilateral meetings with the US side, and a trilateral session involving the US and Switzerland, Budanov reported.
Following the meetings, the head of Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Rustem Umerov, together with Ukrainian MP Davyd Arakhamia and the American side — special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — held a joint call with President Zelenskyy to discuss results and next steps.
The Ukrainian side said the next round is being prepared, with work underway on "finalizing security parameters, economic decisions, and agreed positions" that should form the basis for further agreements. The goal, Umerov said, is to make the next trilateral meeting involving the US and Russia "as substantive as possible."
Following the talks, Zelenskyy said a trilateral meeting with Russia would most likely take place in Abu Dhabi in early March. He noted that the three-way negotiations would need to prepare a leaders-level meeting — involving the heads of Ukraine and the US and Russian dictator Putin. According to Zelenskyy, Trump supports holding such negotiations after the new trilateral meeting.
