The collapse of Vladimir Putin's regime does not guarantee Ukraine's security, as Kremlin policy has remained unchanged for centuries regardless of the ruler. The only path to sustainable peace is the complete disintegration of the Russian Federation and the creation of separate national states on its territory.
As reported by Hvylya, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov stated this in an interview with the Lebanese publication Almodon.
According to the official, the war has been ongoing for 12 years — since 2014. During this time, Russia has changed significantly: it has become poorer economically, demographically, and politically. However, the key threat has not disappeared.
"The only thing that has remained unchanged is imperial ambitions. And this is exactly what needs to be completely eradicated to make Russia a civilized country," Budanov emphasized.
He stressed that one should not rely on internal changes within the Russian Federation. The policies of the current Kremlin leadership differ little from the actions of the Tsarist or Soviet regimes — in all cases, the authorities ignored the well-being of their own population for the sake of expansion.
"We must create conditions under which Russia disappears as an empire. Several national regional states should emerge on its territory that will care for the welfare of their peoples. Then Ukraine, Europe, and the entire world will feel much safer," the Head of the Presidential Office noted.
Budanov also commented on his role in the current political process, reporting that he is currently focused on the diplomatic track.
"My task now is to establish an effective negotiation process," he stated, adding that talk of elections in Ukraine under current conditions is meaningless.
Regarding the role of the US, Budanov expressed gratitude to Donald Trump for efforts that allowed peace consultations to begin. He emphasized that the United States remains Ukraine's ally regardless of who holds the presidency.
The Head of the Office of the President also categorically rejected the possibility of territorial concessions. According to him, all captured lands remain temporarily occupied and will inevitably be liberated over time, as the Ukrainian people will not accept any encroachments on their territory.