Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, said on Monday that securing a deal to end the war with Russia by the onset of winter is "realistic." Budanov repeated the president’s directive to pursue an agreement as quickly as possible and said efforts should aim to conclude before winter, reflecting Kyiv’s improved strategic position.
In an interview aired on Sunday, Zelenskiy expressed a desire to press forward with peace talks ahead of winter. Those negotiations - which had been brokered by the United States - have stalled in recent months as Washington shifted attention to the conflict in Iran, according to officials cited by Ukraine’s presidential administration.
At a press briefing, Budanov said a U.S. delegation was expected to travel to both Moscow and Kyiv in the near future but did not provide further details on timing or composition. He framed the pursuit of a settlement as a presidential priority, telling reporters: "This is the president’s instruction: to try to end this war as soon as possible ... preferably before winter." He added, "In my opinion, this is absolutely correct, timely, and realistic."
Ukrainian statements have emphasized changes on the battlefield. Officials say the advance of Russian forces has slowed on the ground, while Kyiv has stepped up a campaign of long-range strikes inside Russia. Those strikes, the Ukrainian side says, have principally targeted the oil industry.
Separately, a senior Ukrainian commander told reporters last week that Kyiv has a six-month window to seize the battlefield initiative and bolster its negotiating leverage for talks over a possible peace accord. That assessment frames the timing Budanov described and underpins the push to resume diplomacy before winter.
Context and implications
The current situation is marked by two parallel dynamics referenced by Ukrainian officials: a slowdown in Russian frontline advances and an intensification of Ukrainian long-range strikes inside Russia focused mainly on energy infrastructure. Diplomacy that had been mediated by the United States has paused as U.S. attention has been directed to Iran-related developments, though Budanov indicated U.S. diplomatic engagement may soon resume with visits to Moscow and Kyiv.
Details remain limited on the expected U.S. delegation and on the timeline for renewed talks. Ukrainian leadership has articulated a clear preference for reaching an agreement prior to winter, citing a favorable strategic moment on the battlefield and a finite operational window noted by military commanders.