Budanov: There are many supporters of Ukraine aid in Trump's team
The head of the Ukrainian military intelligence, Kirilo Budanov, believes that there are no enemies of Ukraine around Trump in the political situation in Washington. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
In an interview, Budanov stated that while there are those in Trump's team who wish to reduce aid to Ukraine, many emphasize that the volume of assistance is insufficient. He particularly noted that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the president's special envoy, Kit Kellog, are advocates for increasing aid to Ukraine.
According to them, providing assistance to Kyiv is an important part of American national interests, and this aid should be increased in both quality and quantity. Budanov mentioned that Trump's position is evolving over time and based on new information.
According to him, Trump has never been openly against Ukraine; on the contrary, during his early presidency, America was the first to deliver weapons to Ukraine. Budanov also emphasized the importance of influencing U.S. presidential decisions through diplomacy and surrounding channels.
In recent months, a relative balance has formed between the interests of Kyiv and Washington. Kit Kellog has a significant voice for Ukraine, having served as a national security advisor in the Trump administration.
He is known among Republicans as a supporter of a tough policy towards Russia. Kellog advocates for large-scale arms deliveries to Ukraine, strengthening sanctions, and promoting a specific "Marshall Plan."
Recent achievements in air defense systems are also considered to be linked to his activities. The Kyiv Independent noted that Kellog has influenced Trump's tough measures against Russia.
Budanov emphasized that there is no contradiction between American interests and Ukrainian interests. Military-technical assistance serves U.S. geopolitical goals by weakening Moscow's pressure.
He acknowledges the existence of skeptics but believes that there are many supporters of a permanent friendly relationship with Kyiv in Washington. While debates continue regarding the volume and terms of assistance in the Trump administration, Budanov remains optimistic: ultimately, a general agreement will be reached.
Ukraine aims to keep communication channels open with Washington and seeks to implement step-by-step agreements on new weapons and economic packages. Current information is based on open sources, and numbers and formulations may change until official decisions are announced.
Therefore, information from sources should be received with caution.
