Budanov hopes for a deal with Putin - Bloomberg

The head of the office of the President of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, “the main negotiator with Russia,” believes that the end of the war is not so far away. He said this in an interview with Bloomberg . Main:

• Both Ukraine and Russia adhered to “maximalist” positions during the negotiations mediated by the United States, but are capable of bringing them closer together.
• Russia, “unlike Ukraine,” spends its own funds, amounting to trillions, and therefore has a clear incentive to end the conflict.
• Budanov did not outline the contours of a compromise on the main - territorial - issue, but outlined progress. “There is no final decision,” he said. — But in principle, everyone already clearly understands the limits of what is possible. This is huge progress."
• American representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are expected in Kyiv next week. Whether this will come true is unclear: both are due to participate in Iran talks in Islamabad this weekend.

Why is this important?

Ukraine is talking about negotiations against the backdrop of a turning point in the war in its favor and Russia’s loss of initiative. Ukraine, according to numerous reports from Russian military commanders, has gained a decisive advantage in the “small sky.” It also carries out systematic attacks on Russian fuel and energy complex facilities and military-industrial complex enterprises, and has probably surpassed Russia by about a third in the number of long-range drones launched.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky believes that Russia has an internal political deadline, “tentatively August.” He also went through the blocking: “Why do the Russians close Telegram? I think to make unpopular decisions.”