Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, stated in an interview on the tele-marathon broadcast that ending Russia's war against Ukraine under the current conditions is impossible, and that combat operations will continue. In his words, Kyiv cannot stop the conflict not because it does not want to, but because "it is unrealistic right now." The statement came amid ongoing discussions about the prospects for negotiations and what minimal conditions are necessary to stabilize the front.

Why the war will not stop "right now"

Budanov emphasized that the inability to cease hostilities at this moment is driven not by political will but by the objective unfeasibility of such a scenario. The phrasing "not because we don't want to, it's simply unrealistic right now" indicates that, in the assessment of the Head of the President's Office, the conditions for a sustainable ceasefire do not yet exist either on the battlefield or in the diplomatic track. Thus, official Kyiv is, in effect, locking in a course of continuing combat operations as the only realistic option in the medium term.

Winter 2026–2027: the war will not end

Responding to a question about the prospects for the near future, Budanov stated outright that in the winter of 2026–2027 the war against Russia will, unfortunately, not be over. This means that, in his assessment, the parties will not reach an end to the conflict either in the current or the next calendar year. The statement is significant because it shifts the public frame of expectations: instead of discussing possible timelines for a ceasefire, the emphasis is placed on preparing for the continuation of combat operations through the cold season, which is traditionally considered one of the most difficult periods for the warring sides.

Conscription: at least 30,000 per month

In connection with the theme of the war's continuation, Budanov had previously spoken on the issue of mobilization. In his view, it is impossible to mobilize fewer than 30,000 people per month: in his words, this is the minimum number necessary to maintain what is already in place on the front. This figure effectively sets the lower bound for personnel replenishment, without which, according to the Head of the President's Office, holding the current positions becomes impossible. The statement indirectly confirms the thesis that the war is designed for the long haul and requires a steady inflow of personnel.

Women at the front and the exchange of prisoners of war

Budanov also questioned the logic of calling for the mobilization of women in Ukraine given the current situation with men of conscription age, pointing to the inconsistency of such an approach. Separately, he reported that a new large-scale exchange of prisoners of war with Russia is being prepared in the coming days. These two points — the priority of mobilizing men and the exchange in preparation — complete the overall picture: Kyiv, in Budanov's words, is simultaneously preparing the front for the continuation of combat operations and working to return prisoners of war.

Assessment and context

Taken together, Budanov's statements paint a clear picture: Kyiv does not expect the war to end in the coming winter, considers the current conditions for stopping hostilities unrealistic, and is orienting society toward the continuation of the conflict while keeping mobilization figures at no less than 30,000 people per month. At the same time, the preparation of a large-scale prisoner exchange indicates that the humanitarian and diplomatic tracks are not being fully wound down, but they do not change the overall course of continuing combat operations.