Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the President's Office of Ukraine, gave a harsh assessment of the geopolitical prospects of the conflict in an exclusive interview with RBC-Ukraine. In his opinion, China does indeed have leverage over Vladimir Putin that could force the Russian leader to end the war. However, as Budanov noted, Beijing is not interested in a speedy end to hostilities, as it derives certain benefits from them.
China: The Hidden Beneficiary of the Conflict
Budanov emphasized that China's position remains complex and ambiguous. On the one hand, Beijing expresses an official position which, in the opinion of the Ukrainian official, is "good" and could have been significantly worse. On the other hand, China is receiving its "benefits" from the continuation of the war. If Beijing had taken an openly pro-Russian stance, it would have been a catastrophe for Ukraine with serious consequences.
Who Can Actually Stop the War?
Budanov's main conclusion is that only coordinated actions by Ukraine and its key allies, primarily the United States, are capable of ending the aggression. In this equation, Europe, according to the Head of the President's Office, is in the background, as its opinion is less significant for Moscow. Nevertheless, Budanov acknowledges that a great deal still depends on Brussels.
Debunking Myths and Personal Relations
During the conversation, Budanov also touched upon a number of other sensitive topics. He gave a detailed explanation of what the "Spirit of Anchorage" is, which Russian propagandists often refer to. Additionally, the expert assessed the risks of a possible invasion of Ukraine by Belarus and frankly spoke about the nature of his working relationship with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
