Top spy: Ukraine and US maintain strategic partnership despite difficult moments

According to the press service of the Main Intelligence Directorate on Telegram, he said this in an interview with KyivPost, Ukrinform reports.

“Through diplomacy and contacts with the US president's entourage, we can influence his decisions. And it was these actions that influenced the evolution of his position on aid to Ukraine. We managed to find a balance between the interests of Ukraine and the US,” Budanov explained.

According to him, US Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg played a significant role in this process.

The head of the DIU noted that Kellogg was one of the first to lobby for the provision of F-16 fighter jets, ATACMS and Patriot systems, as well as interceptor missiles for them to Ukraine.

“This helped protect thousands of Ukrainians, especially civilians. Keith Kellogg clearly states that aid to Ukraine is fully consistent with the ‘America First’ principle. It is strategically important for America to weaken Russia without using its own troops,” Budanov said.

He expressed his conviction in the stability of the strategic partnership between Ukraine and the US.

“I have never lost my optimism about this. America is our friend. Despite sometimes difficult relations, we have always managed to find common ground,” said the head of military intelligence.

As reported, the presidents of Ukraine and the United States held a telephone conversation on July 4. President Volodymyr Zelensky called it “the best one so far.” According to him, they discussed air defense, in particular, the possibility of obtaining Patriot systems.

On July 14, Trump said he was giving Russia 50 days to conclude an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Otherwise, he threatened Russia with sanctions.