Kyrylo Budanov rejects US proposal for Ukraine-Russia energy integration

Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, reportedly rejected a US-led proposal during talks in Florida aimed at ending the war and establishing a post-war regional order. According to reports from Le Monde, the discussions involved Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The American proposal included a “regional prosperity plan” that sought to reintegrate Ukraine with both the West and Russia by restoring full-scale oil and gas transit through Ukrainian territory. Proponents argued this would provide Ukraine with significant financial inflows while offering Europe cheaper energy resources.

Budanov vehemently opposed the plan, arguing that such an arrangement would lead to Ukraine's dependency on Russia. During the heated exchange, Budanov cited Poland as the model for Ukraine's future rather than Belarus. The tension reportedly led to a temporary interruption of the negotiations, requiring intervention from President Zelenskyy to resume the talks.