Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, has voiced a sense of restrained optimism regarding the potential for progress toward a direct meeting between Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vladimir Putin. This outlook comes as Ukrainian, Russian, and American delegations prepare to convene in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11. The gathering marks the first such trilateral session since a period of heated exchanges over SpaceX’s Starshield satellite network earlier in the year.
In an interview with CBS News conducted on Friday, Budanov explained that the upcoming discussions in the United Arab Emirates will primarily focus on establishing postwar security guarantees for both Ukraine and Russia. He noted that the current atmosphere differs significantly from previous rounds of dialogue, such as those held in February. According to Budanov, the fact that all parties are eager to hold this specific meeting indicates that certain prerequisites for further engagement are now in place. He added that these negotiations are not intended to be the final step in the diplomatic process.
Budanov, who previously led the country’s Defense Intelligence service before assuming his current role in January, is set to join the Ukrainian delegation. The group will be led by Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s top negotiator. Representing Washington, U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are expected to attend. On the Russian side, the team will be headed by Vladimir Medinsky, a close aide to President Putin who also led Moscow’s team in earlier negotiation rounds.
Steve Witkoff announced the talks earlier this week, expressing hope that the parties could build upon progress made in Kyiv, Oslo, and St. Petersburg. He stated that the goal is to reach a comprehensive and durable peace agreement that ensures lasting security for future generations. This diplomatic push follows several weeks of visible strain in the relationship between the United States and Ukraine.
Tensions recently escalated in October when President Trump allowed Russia to supply diesel to the United States for the first time since 2022. Additionally, Elon Musk’s SpaceX temporarily cut off Ukraine’s access to its Starshield satellite networks and some air-defense systems before reinstating them weeks later. Despite these recent developments, Budanov maintains that Ukraine’s relationship with the United States remains positive as it enters the trilateral meeting.
Acknowledging the recent technical issues, Budanov commented on the Starshield failures by stating that the situation was undesirable but has been resolved. He argued that the successful restoration of access provides a foundation for optimism regarding the future of the partnership. The trilateral meeting takes place at a critical moment for Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has faced significant challenges this week.
According to Ukraine’s energy ministry, Russian strikes hit energy facilities in ten regions during the current week. These attacks left hundreds of thousands of households without electricity and disrupted water supply to much of Kyiv for more than 16 hours. Budanov, speaking from his office in the capital, suggested that Russia is using these strikes to exert political pressure on Kyiv.
He explained that Russia’s objective is to cause maximum damage to critical infrastructure. Budanov believes Moscow hopes to create a foundation for social dissatisfaction and street protests to stifle national interests. However, he emphasized that despite the pressure, this outcome will not be allowed to happen.
