Budanov says he personally tried to negotiate halt to long-range strikes

Ukrainian presidential office chief Kyrylo Budanov claimed responsibility for trying to negotiate a cease-fire with Russia regarding long-range strikes, during a speech at the Ukraine Tomorrow international forum on August 28th. However, no agreement has been finalized thus far. Budanov asserted that they "personally tried" and that "it’s not working." He further explained that the attempts to reach an agreement instead resulted in escalation, and Ukraine must "respond with all the means at its disposal."

On August 27th, Budanov had previously suggested Ukrainian and Russian delegations could meet in September, stating that negotiations are currently on hold but there are plans to "revive" them. On August 26th, The Atlantic had reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin might decide to end the war against Ukraine as early as mid-2027, provided Ukraine successfully navigates the winter and retains the capability to strike targets within Russia.