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Budanov’s ties to the U.S. could influence Ukraine’s peace talks — NYT

Kyrylo Budanov has long-standing and strong connections with the United States, which observers believe could play an important role in potential peace negotiations between Ukraine and the Trump administration.

He underwent training under a CIA-backed program and, after being wounded in eastern Ukraine, was treated at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Maryland — a rare case for a Ukrainian serviceman.

What Western media are writing about Ukrainian intelligence chief Budanov, who is set to become the new head of the Presidential Office

The New York Times: Budanov is one of the few Ukrainian officials personally trusted by the United States; his informal ties with U.S. intelligence agencies could be decisive in negotiations.

Financial Times: A representative of the new generation of Ukraine’s wartime elite — without an oligarchic background, with direct contacts in the West and a high level of trust from partners.

Politico: One of the few Ukrainian security officials seen in Washington as a clear and reliable interlocutor — a bridge between intelligence, the military and politics.

Bloomberg: The head of Ukrainian intelligence with direct access to Western partners, whose role is increasingly moving beyond the military sphere and taking on political significance.

The Economist: A cool-headed and pragmatic intelligence chief who thinks strategically and speaks a language Western allies understand.

Associated Press: A key wartime figure who played a central role in Ukraine’s intelligence operations and is now moving toward broader political coordination.

Reuters: One of the most influential people in Zelensky’s inner circle, whose weight comes from control over intelligence, security decisions and contacts with the West.

Welt: Appointing an intelligence chief to a key political position signals a shift in Ukraine’s power focus toward security, war and negotiations.

It is also worth noting that Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR) and Kyrylo Budanov specifically maintain contacts with Russians within the framework of prisoner-of-war exchanges.

This makes him a potentially key figure not only for dialogue with the United States, but also for possible contacts with the Russian side.

President Zelenskyy:

Mykhailo Fedorov will become the new Defense Minister.

"Mykhailo is deeply involved in issues related to the drone line, works very effectively in the digitalization of public services and processes. Together with all our military, with the military command, together with national weapons manufacturers and partners of Ukraine, we need to implement such changes in the defense sector that will help," the President said.

Mykhailo is the youngest minister in Ukrainian government, he is 34 years old.

Congratulations,
@FedorovMykhailo
!

Ukraine battlefield experience and NATO standardization creates exponential logistics and industrial production lines. Not like Iran blueprints of cheap drones but a lethal and flexible strike platform at scale. Russa can load up sweatshops with conscripts and Chinese Temu orders but will not be able to compete at scale with commercial production lines in Germany.