Ukraine, Russia Near Peace Deal: Zelensky’s Aide Reports Progress

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top aide, Kyrylo Budanov, a former head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, has reported progress towards a potential deal to end the war with Russia. However, he declined to reveal specifics about what a compromise on territory might look like.

“No final decision has been made yet,” Budanov said in an interview with Bloomberg on April 4. “But everyone now clearly understands the limits of what is acceptable.”

Budanov was appointed head of Zelensky’s office in January and has become a key Ukrainian negotiator during US-brokered talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

The only tangible outcome from several rounds of talks this year was the exchange of prisoners of war. In the latest exchange in March, Ukraine and Russia swapped 500 POWs.

Another prisoner swap is possible ahead of Orthodox Easter this weekend, according to Ukrainian officials.

Russia announced a 32-hour ceasefire over two days for Orthodox Easter, and Ukraine agreed to reciprocate that. The ceasefire would be in effect from Saturday at 4 pm (1300 GMT) to midnight (2100 GMT) on Sunday.

Budanov said Kyiv and Moscow maintained “maximalist” positions in the talks so far but believed their positions would be closer in the search for a compromise. Russia demands that Ukraine withdraw from parts of Donbas that Kyiv still controls, while Ukraine refuses to do so.