Main points
- Kyrylo Budanov does not plan to participate in the presidential elections while Ukraine is fighting for its existence.
- Currently, his role is in organizational and coordination work, including as a bridge between the presidency and parliament.
Kirill Budanov is not considering the post of president / ABC News, illustrative
Former head of the Ministry of Defense's Directorate of Defense and current head of the President's Office, Kyrylo Budanov, does not plan a political career or participation in the presidential elections, at least while Ukraine is fighting for its existence.
He provided this information in an interview with Bloomberg.
Will Budanov run for president?
The high-ranking official was asked whether he considers his current position as a starting point for a run for the Ukrainian presidency. Kyrylo Budanov explained that such issues are not a priority for him at the moment.
It's too early to think about it now. The survival and existence of the state is at stake. What kind of policy can there be in such a situation,
– he said.
At the same time, the publication writes that his pragmatism explains his role as a bridge between the presidency and the “quarrelsome” Ukrainian parliament, in which he also demonstrates honesty regarding the challenges of government work.
“I am responsible for organizational and coordination work – I make sure that everything functions more or less synchronously. In Ukraine, this is generally difficult, but we have to try,” explained Kyrylo Budanov in an interview.
By the way, also in the interview, he rejected the assumption that Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed him head of the President's Office out of fear of competition, and added that he is not afraid to argue with the president if necessary.
Who could become the next president?
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According to a Socis poll, 29.3% of people are ready to vote for incumbent President Volodymyr Zelensky, and 25% for Valery Zaluzhny. At the same time, 10.5% of people would agree to support Kyrylo Budanov.
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By the way, former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba believes that both parliamentary and presidential elections should be held in Ukraine. In his opinion, Zelensky can continue to lead the country.
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Recall, The Times, citing the CEC, reported that holding presidential elections in Ukraine in 2026 is inappropriate due to unresolved security issues and protection from Russian interference.