«We must be prepared»: Budanov on what awaits Ukraine after the war with Russia
Kyrylo Budanov shared his views on what Ukraine’s postwar relationship with Russia could look like and what the country should prepare for.
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Kyrylo Budanov / © Kyrylo Budanov's Telegram channel
Ukraine should be prepared for the fact that, even after the war ends, it will still share a border with at least part of what is now Russia.
During a meeting with students at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that Ukraine must be prepared for the reality that it will continue to border a certain territory of present-day Russia even after the war concludes.
Budanov made candid remarks on Ukraine’s postwar relations with Russia
Responding to a question about how Ukraine should move forward if the Russian Federation does not collapse, Budanov said:
«There are many possible scenarios. But, as I keep saying, a certain territory will always border us. Most likely, it always will. We need to be prepared for that.»
At the same time, Budanov stressed that the priority now is ending the war and that discussions about future relations while active fighting continues are premature.
«It is simply inappropriate to talk about what relations will look like during the hot phase of the war,» he said.
As an example, Budanov referred to World War II, noting that the Soviet Union did not maintain economic relations with Germany at the height of the conflict, although different situations arose at the beginning of the war and in relations with the United States. In his view, such discussions are impossible during an open conventional war.