Ukraine Expects 'Technical Talks' With Russia But Downplays Hopes for Breakthrough

A senior Ukrainian official stated on Friday that he expects "technical talks" with Russia to begin in the near future, though he tempered any optimism for a swift resolution to the conflict. The adviser, Kyrylo Budanov, characterized the potential discussions as preliminary steps rather than a major breakthrough.

Nature of the Talks

In an interview for the YouTube project "Moseichuk+," Budanov, who represents Ukraine in negotiations, suggested the talks would focus on logistics and groundwork. "I think everyone will see the negotiations happening very soon," he said. "But this will mainly concern the technical side of things and preparations for something big."

Previous rounds of U.S.-backed peace talks, with the last trilateral negotiations held in February, have failed to produce tangible results in the war, which is now in its fifth year according to the source report.

Expectations for the Conflict

Budanov dismissed the idea of an imminent end to the fighting, calling it "unrealistic" to expect the war to conclude at this time. He indicated that hostilities would likely persist through the coming winter.

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His comments come as both sides have recently intensified attacks on critical infrastructure, including logistics hubs, ports, and energy facilities. Russia is widely expected to resume its campaign against Ukraine's power grid as colder weather approaches.

Sticking Points in Negotiations

The primary obstacle to a resolution remains unchanged. Budanov stated that Russia's key demand is Ukraine's withdrawal from the eastern Donbas region, an area Russian forces have not fully occupied. Kyiv has consistently maintained it will not cede territory it still controls.

Budanov noted that a resolution requires both nations to be ready to "simultaneously take a step toward each other." He asserted that Russia is not yet prepared for such a move. "And as of now, the Russian Federation... is saying outright, 'we might want to but no'," Budanov said, describing Moscow's current stance.