According to the media, one wing is concentrated around the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov. His supporters believe that a “quick American-led agreement” is in Ukraine’s interests. They fear that the “window of opportunity” may soon close.
The other wing, apparently still under the influence of former chief of staff Andrei Yermak, who resigned amid a corruption scandal, is much less interested. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky appears to be “balancing between them,” although he has his own ideas, the article says.
According to its author, journalist Oliver Carroll, the question of whether Ukraine is better off concluding a quick peace agreement or waiting is a “finely balanced judgment”, because both options have obvious risks.
He noted that ideally Ukraine needs a long-term agreement that would include security guarantees from the United States. However, it provides for concessions from the Russian Federation, and not only from Ukraine, and, accordingly, “real pressure” from America on Russia. The journalist believes that previous experience indicates that there is “little reason to expect this.”
