Quick ceasefire possible, but lasting peace unlikely — Ukraine's spy chief

Budanov shared his opinions in an interview with Ukrinform.

In response to a question about what to expect from Russia at the negotiation table, Budanov noted that the Russians would try to "pressure us and offer various financially attractive things for other parties involved."

"The real question is ceasefire or peace. These are absolutely different things. Reaching a quick ceasefire, in my personal opinion, is feasible. Reaching peace quickly - no," said Budanov.

At the same time, he noted that Russia's military-political leadership currently "needs a break" to accumulate strength.

"According to their strategy, if they don't exit this war by 2026, they lose even the chance for world leadership. They will only have regional leadership left, which is absolutely unacceptable for them," added Budanov.

He pointed out that the financial cost of the war is too high, and it prevents the country from developing and engaging in large-scale projects.

• Budanov also stated that a single day of war in Ukraine costs Russia nearly $1 billion, with 41% of Russia's budget allocated to defense.