--- title: "Budanov: Stopping the war with Russia now is unrealistic; combat operations in winter 2026–2027 are unavoidable" description: "Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, stated that stopping the war with Russia now is unrealistic, and that, in his assessment, combat operations will not be over by the winter of 2026–2027." date: 2026-08-28T15:58:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/budanov-stopping-war-with-russia-now-unrealistic-winter-2026-2027 tags: [ukraine-war, budanov, russia-ukraine, mobilization, pow-exchange] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Budanov: Stopping the war with Russia now is unrealistic; combat operations in winter 2026–2027 are unavoidable ![Budanov signs a document in an office with a NATO flag: war with Russia to last through winter 2026–2027](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/28/budanov-prekratit-voynu-seychas-nerealistichno-zima-2026-2027/budanov-prekratit-voynu-seychas-nerealistichno-zima-2026-2027-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Budanov stated that stopping the war with Russia now is unrealistic, not undesirable. - In his assessment, the war will not end in the winter of 2026–2027. - The minimum required mobilization figure is no less than 30,000 people per month. - A new large-scale exchange of prisoners of war with Russia is being prepared. 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. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Stopping the war right now is unrealistic, says Budanov](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zupiniti-viynu-prosto-zaraz-nerealistichno-1787932135.html) - Первичный источник цитаты: заявление Буданова о нереалистичности прекращения войны и о том, что зимой 2026–2027 война не закончится. - [The "List of F***ers 2026" notebook and more: what the media noticed in Budanov's office (photos)](https://focus.ua/politics/752077-bloknot-spisok-p-v-2026-i-ne-tolko-chto-interesnogo-smi-zametili-v-kabinete-budanova-foto) - Подтверждено по источнику focus.ua - ["Do you think I've become weaker?": Budanov says he is not afraid of Zelensky](https://focus.ua/politics/750662-politicheskie-ambicii-budanova-glava-op-zayavil-chto-ne-boitsya-zelenskogo) - Подтверждено по источнику focus.ua - [Budanov jokes about his successes in his new role](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2026/04/10/8029587/) - Контекст: подтверждает, что Буданов занимает новую должность в Офисе президента (апрель 2026). ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why, in Budanov's words, can the war not be stopped now? **A:** He explained that it is not a matter of unwillingness, but of the unfeasibility of a ceasefire scenario under the current conditions. ### Q: Will the war end in the winter of 2026–2027? **A:** In Budanov's assessment, no: he stated that in the winter of 2026–2027 the war will, unfortunately, not be over. ### Q: What minimum mobilization figure was named? **A:** No less than 30,000 people per month — this is, in Budanov's words, the minimum needed to maintain what is in place on the front. ### Q: Is an exchange of prisoners of war being prepared? **A:** Yes, Budanov reported that a new large-scale exchange of prisoners of war with Russia is being prepared in the coming days.