Budanov wants to stay at the head of the GUR until the end of the war – “if I survive”
11 July 2025 21:22
The head of the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, has said that he wants to lead the DIU until the war with Russia ends. In an interview with Bloomberg , he said that his main dream now is to stop the war, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
“In the future, I will decide what I want to do. In the meantime, I want to finish the job,” Budanov said.
When journalists noted that next month will mark five years since his appointment, he replied: “If I survive,” adding that “anything can happen” and mentioning the memorial to the fallen intelligence officers in the DIU building.
Budanov also commented on the situation with American aid, saying that he expects it to resume in the near future, including the delivery of new air defense systems.
He also noted that he considers US President Donald Trump’s policy to be consistent, despite criticism in the media:
“As the head of the intelligence service, I know more.”
The intelligence chief believes it is possible to achieve a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia by the end of 2025, but with the participation of at least three parties – Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
