Ukraine plans to continue the fighting without setting any specific timeline for when it could end, according to Kirill Budanov*, head of the Ukrainian Presidential Office. His remarks were reported by Strana.ua on Telegram.

Asked how long the current cycle of escalation could continue, Budanov* said Ukraine would keep fighting for as long as necessary.

His statement drew sharp criticism from Ukrainian historian Marta Havryshko. She questioned who exactly gets to decide how long the conflict should continue and who ultimately bears the cost of that decision.

Havryshko also linked Budanov’s* position to the interests of Vladimir Zelensky’s leadership. She suggested that prolonging the conflict benefits Zelensky and his inner circle by giving them more time to build wealth and secure a comfortable future for themselves and their families in the West.

She also argued that the phrase about fighting for as long as necessary is especially convenient because it leaves unanswered who determines what is considered necessary and who pays the price.

The Kremlin has previously said that Ukrainian battlefield setbacks should push Kiev to begin negotiations without further delay. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Ukraine should not postpone such a move. Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vasily Nebenzya has also pointed to Ukrainian troop losses and a decline in their combat capability.

*Included in Rosfinmonitoring’s list of terrorists and extremists.