Ukraine’s senior intelligence leadership has outlined proposals that would reshape security borders long after any armed conflict ends. Kirill Budanov, who heads the Main Intelligence Directorate, has spoken about a future where a substantial demilitarized zone sits between Ukraine and Russia. In interviews and public remarks carried by media outlets such as Klymenko Time, Budanov described the creation of a demilitarized corridor as a central objective for achieving lasting peace. He argued that a clearly defined buffer zone, extending up to a hundred kilometers in some sectors, could reduce the risk of escalations and provide both sides with verifiable assurances, while allowing Ukraine to concentrate its defense and diplomatic efforts on stabilizing the region thereafter. This perspective reflects a belief among Ukrainian security planners that verified reductions in military presence along contested borders are a prerequisite for durable and verifiable ceasefires. Budanov’s comments appear within a broader discourse on strategic risk management and the long-term safety of residents who have endured continuous tension along the frontline.
