Ukraine preparing for new round of peace talks in October

A new round of trilateral peace talks could take place in October, Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the President's Office, has said.

Source: Budanov, speaking to Interfax-Ukraine on the sidelines of the YES (Yalta European Strategy) meeting in Kyiv, and speaking at the meeting itself, as quoted by European Pravda

Details: "We are preparing. For October," Budanov said when asked whether preparations are underway for the next round of peace talks.

Budanov also confirmed that the trilateral format is being discussed. However, he declined to comment on potential venues for the talks.

In his remarks at the meeting, Budanov noted that Ukraine seeks to offer protection to countries that have supported it during the war, but in practice the final decision will depend on the security architecture in Europe.

At the end of a discussion panel in which Budanov took part, he chose to comment on a topic that had not come up in the questions.

"Let's put it this way – will Ukraine help other countries if necessary?" Budanov added, rephrasing a discussion that had focused on another topic.

Budanov stated that Ukraine "will definitely repay everyone who helped it, so in principle it is beneficial to have Ukraine as a friend and not something else". He stressed, however, that this also depends on the configuration of "Europe's new security architecture".

Separately, Budanov emphasised that European partners need to determine not only the security architecture but also "Ukraine's mission and role in this security architecture". He stressed that "Ukraine is definitely ready to take an active part in this and offers this openly".

Budanov, who headed Defence Intelligence of Ukraine prior to his appointment to the President's Office, also warned partners not to delay in deciding on their answer to this question.

"They say that Europe needs to wake up, to get ready. But have you ever thought that it might happen that there just won't be time for that? And reality won't knock on your door – it will kick the door down with a 'boot'. That happens too," he explained.

Subscribe on Patreon to back our journalism long-term.