Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov has publicly denied information published in international media concerning the details of the negotiation process between the Ukrainian and American delegations. In a statement made on October 28, the head of the OP dismissed the disseminated information as «untrue» and qualified it as part of «information attacks on the negotiation process.» «Regarding the alleged insider details of communication — the information is untrue, nothing of the kind ever happened. Right now, we are witnessing information attacks on the negotiation process. It is important to keep a cool head and remember our key goal: a sustainable peace for Ukraine. We are doing everything for this,» Budanov stated.
What Le Monde Published
The catalyst for the OP head's reaction was an article published earlier in October by the French newspaper Le Monde. Citing an unnamed source present at the October 9 talks, the publication described a tense episode during the meeting between the Ukrainian and American delegations. According to the source, US President's special envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a so-called «regional prosperity plan,» which envisioned the full restoration of Russian oil and gas transit to Europe via Ukrainian territory in exchange for dividends for Kyiv. Witkoff, according to the interlocutor, called the initiative mutually beneficial.
«Our Model is Not Belarus, but Poland»
Le Monde also reported that Budanov reacted sharply to Witkoff's proposal, stating: «Our model is not Belarus, but Poland!» According to the same source, following these words, Budanov interrupted the negotiations and called President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The publication added that negotiations completely broke down when the Ukrainian delegation learned about a «diesel agreement» concluded between Donald Trump and Russia shortly before the meeting. Witkoff, according to Le Monde, irritably told the Ukrainians: «Accept this diesel agreement and stop strikes on Russian oil refineries! You are putting the world in danger!»
Context: The Diesel Agreement and US Reaction
The fact of the «diesel agreement» itself has been confirmed: on October 9, Donald Trump announced an «extremely successful conversation» with Vladimir Putin and an agreement on supplies of Russian diesel fuel to the global market. Following this, the US Department of the Treasury announced the issuance of a temporary general license authorizing the respective supplies. The agreement drew criticism within the US as well — American lawmakers registered a bill aimed at blocking the Russian diesel deal.
Information War Around the Negotiations
Budanov's denial came against the backdrop of details regarding the negotiation process between Kyiv and Washington becoming the target of intense informational pressure. According to the OP head's assessment, the publication of unverified insider reports creates artificial tension and distracts from the primary task of achieving sustainable peace. At the same time, neither the Ukrainian nor the American side had publicly commented on the substance of the October 9 conversation prior to Budanov's statement, which observers note makes the OP head's denial the first official comment on the substance of Le Monde's leaks.
