22:00 19-04-2026

Ukraine Security Guarantees Near Completion, Says Budanov*

RusPhotoBank

Kyryll Budanov* says Ukraine is close to finalizing security guarantees, while territorial disputes and mobilization challenges remain unresolved.

Kyryll Budanov*, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and formerly chief of the country’s Main Intelligence Directorate, says negotiations over security guarantees for Ukraine are nearing completion.

According to him, the issue has become a top priority for Kyiv, and the bulk of the work is already done. A framework for how international support will function after the end of hostilities has effectively been defined, which he described as a significant step forward.

At the same time, Budanov* made clear that one of the most sensitive areas remains unresolved. He acknowledged that no final agreement has yet been reached with the Russian Federation on territorial issues, leaving a key point of contention still open.

He also pointed to mounting challenges on the domestic front, particularly in mobilization efforts. Over the past six months, Ukrainian authorities have managed to meet only the minimum recruitment targets. Budanov* indicated that the available pool of mobilization resources has largely been exhausted, framing the difficulties in replenishing the ranks as a predictable consequence of a prolonged conflict.

Even achieving baseline recruitment levels for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he suggested, now requires considerable effort. He characterized the overall situation with mobilization as extremely difficult.

*Kyryll Budanov is listed by Rosfinmonitoring as a terrorist and extremist.