Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine, has warned that changes in the Kremlin’s leadership will not alter Russia’s aggressive nature.
In an interview with the Lebanese news portal Al-Mudun, he argued that the only way to guarantee global security is to dismantle Moscow’s imperial ambitions and divide the country into several independent states.
“Russia has changed over the past 12 years—it is poorer economically, politically, and demographically. But one thing has remained constant: its imperial ambitions,” Budanov said. “These ambitions must be completely eradicated to turn Russia into a civilized country. Achieving this will not be immediate, but it is absolutely our goal, and I am confident we will succeed, if not now, then soon.”
Budanov emphasized that Russia’s core nature has persisted across historical regimes.
“Regardless of its current form, the main ideology remains the same. Russian authorities have never prioritized the welfare of their citizens, whether under the Tsarist regime, the Soviet Union, or today’s oligarchic capitalist system. The policies of the current president are not fundamentally different from those of past eras,” he noted.
According to Budanov, expecting Russia to change from within is unrealistic. Instead, he advocates for creating conditions that would lead to the collapse of the Russian empire and the emergence of several regional states, each focused on the welfare of its own people.
“Only then will Ukraine, Europe, and the world feel safer,” he stressed.
The Presidential Office chief also called for continued economic sanctions against Russia, even after active hostilities cease.
“Any scenario that allows Russia to restore its economic potential would only encourage new aggression. Frozen assets and future profits should be redirected toward reparations and rebuilding Ukraine,” he said.
