Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov held a video conference with the Chairman of the US Senate Armed Services Committee, Roger Wicker, and a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Michael Bennet.
Budanov said this in a post on Telegram.
During the conversation, the American senators raised pressing issues, focusing on the challenges Ukraine faces in resisting Russian aggression and on priority areas for bilateral co-operation.
Budanov stressed that the intensification of Russian strikes on rear cities and the shelling of civilian and critical infrastructure is systematic terror that has no military rationale and does not fundamentally change the situation at the front.
He said Ukraine is critically dependent on US assistance in the area of early-warning systems for aerial threats, which are needed to protect the civilian population in winter.
Separately, the head of the Office of the President noted US efforts to organise and advance the negotiation process. He informed the American side of Ukraine’s position and noted that proper conditions must be prepared in order to achieve results. Ukraine expects progress during the next round of trilateral talks.
Budanov also emphasised the importance of security guarantees. He said that a peaceful settlement or a cessation of hostilities without clear security mechanisms would not guarantee a lasting peace. Therefore, creating a reliable security system with the participation of partners remains one of Ukraine’s priorities.
Such arrangements, Budanov noted, should be seen not as one-sided charity but as a pragmatic US investment in strengthening defence capabilities and its own security.
- Yesterday, the US State Department approved a possible sale to Ukraine of 500 PAC-3 MSE missiles for Patriot systems. The total cost is $2.1 billion, fully financed by partners and allies.