Budanov sees ceasefire along current front line as most realistic path

Ukraine's presidential chief of staff Kyrylo Budanov believes the most feasible path to cease hostilities is adhering to the current front line as outlined in a deal. He stated this in an interview with Latvian public broadcaster LSM on September 11. Budanov elaborated that the most realistic scenario would involve a ceasefire along the existing front line, but without any legal recognition of territorial loss by Ukraine.

He clarified that such a scenario is highly unlikely and none of the parties involved would agree to it. Furthermore, Budanov warned that if Russia persists in its hostilities against Ukraine, Ukraine's retaliatory strikes against Russian territory would escalate. In early September, Budanov had predicted that Ukraine might not achieve a ceasefire before spring 2027.

Russia is anticipated to attempt a breakthrough of Ukraine's defenses during the upcoming winter offensive. On the same day, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov affirmed that there were no specific preconditions for a peaceful resolution in Ukraine. On August 24, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv, along with representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump and European officials, had crafted a new plan to end the war.

This plan entails a ceasefire, mutual troop withdrawals from the front line, and the establishment of a buffer zone. The Kremlin has consistently maintained that "freezing the war is impossible" as Russia is determined to achieve its objectives.