The question of how relations between Ukraine and Russia will be structured after the end of hostilities remains open. However, the necessity of preparing to live with the Russian Federation as a permanent neighbor has already become a fact. This was stated by the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, during a meeting with students of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
The Reality of Neighborhood
In his speech, Budanov emphasized that the scenarios for the development of events could be very different, but the geographical reality does not change. According to him, a certain territory will always border Ukraine, and the country will have to prepare for this fact in the long term.
The Head of the Office of the President noted that it is premature to discuss the details of future cooperation or confrontation, as the conflict is in an active phase. Budanov drew historical parallels, pointing out that during World War II, the USSR did not conduct economic relations with Germany in the midst of hostilities, despite the fact that the situation at the beginning of the conflict could have been different. Similar logic, in his opinion, applied to relations with the United States.
“One cannot speak about what relations will be like during the hot phase. It is simply incorrect,” Budanov summarized, calling for a focus on the current task — stopping the war.
Moscow's Position and the Pause in Negotiations
At the moment, the negotiation process between Kyiv and Moscow is in a state of calm. The official dialogue was suspended back in winter. According to available data, the initial cause of the breakdown in contacts was the interference of external factors, including the actions of the United States, which acted as a mediator.
Later, the initiative for dialogue was rejected by the Russian side. The Kremlin stated that it was ready to talk only on the condition that Ukraine was ready to give up control over the Donbas. Recently, the situation has not changed: Russian leader Vladimir Putin stated that there are no prerequisites for negotiations.
Putin criticized the letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent to him on June 4, stating that the document does not create a basis for dialogue. At the same time, Moscow periodically makes proposals to resume communication “on the basis of the Istanbul agreements,” however, Kyiv does not yet see a constructive way out of the crisis in this.