During talks with Ukraine in early 2026, Russia proposed that the Ukrainian delegation travel to Moscow to continue peace negotiations. The Ukrainian side was also given a hint about a possible meeting with Vladimir Putin.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, spoke about this in an interview with The New York Times.
According to Budanov, the proposal was made after the end of another round of talks in Geneva. A trip to Moscow could have given the Ukrainian delegation an opportunity to meet Putin directly, but at the same time carried obvious risks for those involved.
Ultimately, the trip to Moscow did not take place, and the negotiating process soon stalled.
"I am ready for any step that will end the war," Budanov said, adding that the terms of such a decision must be acceptable to Ukraine.
He also acknowledged that Ukraine and Russia cannot trust each other because of the war, but in his view this should not completely block negotiations.
"We cannot trust each other because we are at war. That is logical and understandable. At the same time, both sides understand that they need to look for a solution. The war cannot last forever," the head of the President’s Office noted.
According to Budanov, the talks, which are being mediated by the administration of US President Donald Trump, could resume as early as late September.
The process is expected to begin with a visit to Kyiv by the US administration’s special representative for peace Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Budanov noted that Witkoff and Kushner have already travelled to Moscow several times, but have not yet visited Kyiv, despite numerous official invitations from the Ukrainian side.
The head of the President’s Office predicts that a ceasefire may still be a long way off. According to him, the conditions for a truce are likely to come together only in the spring.
Budanov stressed that he has extensive experience of communicating with the Russian side since the start of the full-scale invasion. In particular, he took part in negotiations on prisoner-of-war exchanges and other issues.
"I am a military intelligence officer. All my life I have conducted dialogues and communications. For me, it is not difficult," he said.
According to Budanov, negotiations between Ukraine and Russia should continue even if fighting is taking place at the same time.
"Negotiations will sooner or later lead to something. You cannot fight for your whole life," he concluded.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said that in the near future, international efforts to end Russian aggression could gain new momentum.
Talks on Ending the War
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are trying to find a format for talks with Russia. But finding an option the Russians will agree to without Ukraine leaving Donetsk Region is difficult.
- Last year and at the start of this year, Ukraine, the US and Russia held trilateral meetings to discuss a plan to end the war. At the centre of the discussions is a 20-point plan developed with the support of the United States.
- Territorial issues remained unresolved. Russia is demanding the creation of a "demilitarised zone" in the free part of Donbas — that is, the withdrawal of Ukraine’s army from there. Ukraine believes the war should be ended along the current lines. As a compromise, the US is proposing a free economic zone, but the mechanics of the proposal and whether Russia would in that case install its own authorities there are still unknown.
- The enemy also wants the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant recognised as belonging to it and the plant connected to the Russian energy system. Ukraine is proposing joint management of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant together with the US, with Americans having the right to decide for themselves to whom to sell their share of the energy.
- The trilateral meetings stopped in February after the start of the US-Israeli operation against Iran.