Budanov: No one in Ukraine would concede even a single millimeter of our territory

Desiring peace is a matter of common sense, not a sign of weakness. No one in Ukraine will ever accept the loss of Ukrainian territory. Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, made this statement during the 18th annual Kyiv Security Forum, which was held under the theme “Darkness or Dawn: Is There Light Ahead?” When asked if U.S. President Donald Trump is a strong ally, Budanov called the United States a strategic ally of Ukraine. "We consider the U.S. a strategic ally. I hope they view us the same way," he said. According to Budanov, the situation with negotiations between the U.S. and Iran affects the intensity of talks regarding Ukraine. “But we are expecting them (U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — ed.) in Kyiv. This is well-known information. I think it will happen after all,” Budanov emphasized. At the same time, he believes that the sensitive aspects of the negotiation process should not be disclosed. "We are trying to do our job, and I believe in it. That's all I will tell you. The negotiation process and any of its sensitive aspects cannot be disclosed," the Lieutenant General stressed. Budanov noted that "the desire for peace is common sense, not a sign of weakness." "The conditions for achieving peace could be entirely different. I don't think anyone in Ukraine would concede even a millimeter of our territory. I am absolutely certain of that. It's also common knowledge that we haven’t reached an agreement. But that's what this process is for. It may or may not achieve its goal. That's also normal. We are prepared for any turn of events. If we are strong, it will give us room to maneuver in this situation, as they say. If we are weak, they will dictate the terms to us,” the Lieutenant General believes. He is confident that "no one in the world will deal with the weak, and no international law will apply here." Kyiv Security Forum (KSF) is an annual international event launched in 2007 on the initiative of Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.