---
title: "Budanov names the most realistic scenario for ending the war: a halt along the front line without legal recognition of territorial losses"
description: "Budanov named a halt to hostilities along the de facto front line the most realistic scenario for ending the war. Ukraine will not legally recognize the renunciation of territories."
date: 2026-09-11T10:22:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/budanov-names-most-realistic-scenario-for-ending-war
tags: [ukraine-war, ceasefire, budanov, peace-negotiations, security-guarantees, trump-envoys]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Budanov names the most realistic scenario for ending the war: a halt along the front line without legal recognition of territorial losses

![Kyrylo Budanov, head of HUR, in Ukrainian Security Service uniform explaining the realistic scenario for ending the war](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/11/budanov-nazval-realistichnyy-scenariy-zaversheniya-voyny/budanov-nazval-realistichnyy-scenariy-zaversheniya-voyny-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Budanov named a halt to hostilities along the de facto front line as of the day an agreement is reached the most realistic scenario for ending the war
- The cessation of hostilities must be accompanied by security guarantees for Ukraine
- Ukraine will not legally recognize the renunciation of territories — this is a fundamental red line
- The remarks came against the backdrop of the first visit to Kyiv on September 6 by Trump's special envoys Witkoff and Kushner, following their meeting with Putin

Kyrylo Budanov, head of the President's Office of Ukraine, revealed in an interview with Latvian television what he considers the most realistic scenario for ending the conflict with Russia. Speaking on air, he outlined the specific parameters of a possible cessation of hostilities and underscored Kyiv's principled position on territorial integrity.

### A halt along the de facto front line

"My subjective opinion is that the most realistic option for ending the war or, at the very least, a cessation of hostilities — with security guarantees for Ukraine — would be along the de facto front line as of the day an agreement is reached," Budanov stated. In other words, this is not about some abstract "peace," but about freezing the status quo as of a specific date on which a key agreement of significance to Ukraine is reached. Budanov called security guarantees a vital element of the scenario, without which, in his words, any ceasefire loses its durability.

### The red line: no legal recognition of renouncing territories

In response to a question about the legal status of the territories, Budanov was categorical: "That will not happen, and no one will do it." He emphasized that a cessation of hostilities is not equivalent to Ukraine legally recognizing the renunciation of any part of its state territory. This is a fundamental distinction between the de facto halt to firing and the legal consequences of the conflict, which, by Kyiv's design, allows sovereignty and territorial integrity to be preserved in the international legal sphere.

### Context: visit by Trump's special envoys to Kyiv

Budanov's remarks came against the backdrop of active diplomatic engagement by Washington. On September 6, U.S. President's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Kyiv for the first time. The day before, on September 5, they held a three-hour meeting with Vladimir Putin in Moscow. According to Donald Trump, the envoys carried out of Moscow a proposal for ending the war, and during the talks in Kyiv a significant part of the discussion was devoted to the upcoming winter and the associated risks for both sides.

### What this means for the negotiation track

The position voiced by Budanov effectively formulates the minimally acceptable version of "freezing" the conflict for Kyiv: fixing the line of contact without changing the legal status of the territories and with external security guarantees in place. The combination of these conditions,叠加 on the diplomatic impetus from the visit of the American special envoys, indicates that a concrete framework for discussion is taking shape on the negotiation track, even if a final agreement has not yet been reached.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Budanov names the most realistic scenario for ending the war with Russia](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/budanov-nazvav-nayrealistichnishiy-stsenariy-1789121901.html) - Основной источник: цитата Буданова, контекст визита Виткоффа и Кушнера 6 сентября, формулировка «по фактической линии фронта».
- [Budanov reveals the scenario for ending the war: "There will be no legal recognition of renouncing territories"](https://my.ua/news/cluster/2026-09-11-budanov-raskryl-stsenarii-zaversheniia-voiny-ne-budet-iuridicheskogo-priznaniia-otkaza-ot-territorii) - Подтверждает ключевую цитату об отсутствии юридического признания. Дата публикации 11.09.2026 совпадает с актуальной.
- [Budanov names the main scenario for ending the war, but Ukraine will not budge on one condition](https://society.comments.ua/news/warrussia/budanov-nazval-glavnyy-scenariy-okonchaniya-voyny-no-ot-odnogo-usloviya-ukraina-ne-otstupit-815968.html) - Согласуется по содержанию: сценарий по линии фронта + условие гарантий безопасности + отказ от юридического признания.
- [Budanov names the most realistic scenario for ending the war: there is an important condition](https://www.ua-football.com/ukrainian/news/1789123750-budanov-nazval-samyy-realistichnyy-scenariy-zaversheniya-voyny-est-vazhnoe-uslovie.html) - Дублирует информацию источника 1 без дополнительных расхождений.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: What scenario for ending the war did Budanov call the most realistic?
**A:** A halt to hostilities along the de facto front line as of the day an agreement of significance to Ukraine is reached, provided there are security guarantees for Ukraine.

### Q: Will Ukraine legally recognize the renunciation of territories?
**A:** No. Budanov stated outright: "That will not happen, and no one will do it." A cessation of hostilities does not mean legal recognition of the loss of territories.

### Q: What context accompanied Budanov's statement?
**A:** On September 6, Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visited Kyiv for the first time, having previously held a three-hour meeting with Putin in Moscow. Trump reported that the envoys carried out of Moscow a proposal for ending the war.

### Q: Where was Budanov's interview given?
**A:** On air with Latvian television, as reported by RBC-Ukraine.