A widely reported quote attributed to the head of the GUR MO of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, from a closed session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, marked as confidential, does not reflect reality.
This was stated by the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in response to media reports claiming that Budanov mentioned during a closed meeting in the Ukrainian parliament that serious negotiations to end the war should begin by the summer of 2025, as processes may commence that could threaten the existence of our country.
The GUR urged against spreading rumors and unverified, unconfirmed information, especially regarding defense matters in the war, as "certain political figures may distort this for their own interests, using journalists for this purpose."
"The dissemination of any messages regarding discussions allegedly taking place at official meetings marked as confidential, involving the military-political leadership of the state, harms state security and is exploited by the enemy for its own purposes," the Ukrainian intelligence agency stated.
The GUR added that Ukraine continues its armed struggle for independence because the war with Russia persists.
"The informational dimension of the war is also critically important. We remind you of the martial law in effect throughout our state," the intelligence agency emphasized.
Budanov's Forecast on the War and Negotiations - What We Know
As reported by UNIAN, the publication "Ukrainska Pravda" noted that a closed meeting took place in parliament, where the leaders of the parliament and factions invited the command of the Defense Forces to understand the real situation. It was mentioned that the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov, allegedly warned that serious negotiations must begin by summer to end the war, as processes may begin that threaten Ukraine's existence.
A source from the publication noted that initially, the representatives of the General Staff spoke in a rather confusing but very interesting manner. They added that Budanov's response stood out the most when someone asked him how much time was left, to which he supposedly replied with "his cold smile" that "if serious negotiations do not take place by summer, very dangerous processes for Ukraine's existence may begin."