Kyrylo Budanov is the key to Ukraine's negotiations with the US

Budanov is the «key» to dialogue with Trump

The New York Times calls Kirill Budanov «key figure» for a potential dialogue between Kyiv and the US president Donald Trump in the event of peace talks. The publication emphasises that it is Budanov who has unique, long-standing and deep ties to the US security system.

According to the NYT, these ties were formed long before Russia's full-scale invasion and are practical, not protocol.

Key facts cited by the NYT

• Training under US programmes. Budanov was trained as part of programmes supported by Central Intelligence Agency.

• Pre-war integration. Even before 2022, he was involved in systematic cooperation with US intelligence, which distinguishes him among Ukrainian security forces.

• Treatment in the USA. After being wounded in eastern Ukraine, Budanov was treated in Walter Reed National Military Medical Centre - an exceptional case for a Ukrainian serviceman, possible only with the direct assistance of the US side.

• Trust in Washington. In US political and security circles, Budanov is perceived as a partner who understands the logic of US security structures and is able to speak the same language as them.

Context.

The NYT emphasises that Budanov's appointment as head of the Office of the President of Ukraine could significantly change the configuration of Kyiv's foreign policy contacts - especially against the backdrop of a possible intensification of the US negotiations track. His background makes him not only an administrator, but also a bridge between the Ukrainian authorities and the US security establishment.