Ukrainian spies deny boss warned country could collapse
Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense (HUR) has sought to dismiss reports claiming its chief, Kirill Budanov, warned that the country’s survival could be at risk if Kiev doesn’t agree to peace talks with Moscow.
The alleged comments were reported on Monday by the local outlet Strana, which cited sources claiming that Budanov had made the remarks during a closed-door parliamentary session. One of the people reportedly present at the meeting told the outlet that top military officials, including officers from the General Staff, delivered sensitive briefings.
Budanov was quoted as allegedly warning lawmakers in Kiev that “if there are no serious negotiations by summer, very dangerous processes could begin for the very existence of Ukraine.”
In response, the HUR issued a statement on Telegram on Monday rejecting the quote as false and urging media outlets to refrain from spreading “rumors, unverified, and officially unconfirmed information,” especially regarding critical national security matters.
The intelligence agency emphasized that the dissemination of any reports allegedly discussed at classified official meetings involving the military and political leadership “undermines state security and is exploited by the enemy for its interests.”
Separately, Andrey Kovalenko, head of the National Security and Defense Council’s Center for Countering Disinformation, condemned the “leak” and accused a member of parliament of distorting Budanov’s words for media coverage.
“This is some kind of total irresponsibility,” he stated on Telegram, calling on lawmakers to “finally use your brain.”
The alleged warning by Budanov comes as Kiev’s forces have been pushed back across the front line by Russian troops. Ukrainian officials and commanders have also voiced concerns about manpower shortages amid a fraught mobilization campaign, with recruitment officers often facing open resistance from reluctant draftees.
Earlier this week, Strana reported that top Ukrainian officials were reviewing a plan by US President Donald Trump’s team to end the conflict within 100 days. While the roadmap remains unconfirmed, its key points reportedly include direct talks between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to pave the way for a ceasefire along the front lines by April 20 and a peace agreement by early May.
Vladimir Zelensky’s Chief of Staff Andrey Yermak has dismissed the supposedly leaked plan as “fake,” posting on X on Sunday that “no ‘100-day peace plan’ as reported by the media exists in reality.”
Moscow has repeatedly stated it is willing to engage in talks with both the US and Ukraine but has accused the Kiev of refusing to resume negotiations.
Putin said last week that negotiations with Ukraine are currently impossible because of Zelensky’s prohibition on talks with Russia. He suggested that Kiev’s Western backers should push for the ban to be lifted.
