Russia’s authorities are being forced to reshape their narratives about the war against Ukraine because they have been unable to achieve their original objectives. In particular, a new Russian narrative is now focused on “Ukraine’s non-aligned status and its non-nuclear status.”
This was stated by Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov during the Kyiv Stratcom Forum 2026.
“Time passes, and under the pressure of the unpleasant reality they are facing, they (the Russians — ed.) are forced to come up with answers for their society. And each time, the bar is lowered. Everyone can see this,” he said.
Budanov noted that the narrative of “Kyiv in three days” later transformed into “Donbas at any cost.”
“About a week ago, if I’m not mistaken, yet another new narrative appeared: ‘Ukraine must be a non-nuclear state and must not join any military alliances.’ This is already a new goal, meaning the bar has been lowered a bit further. That is normal, because time is passing and, obviously, since we are here talking today, the goal has not been achieved,” he said.
The head of the Presidential Office added that Russia’s leadership understands that continuing to insist on the “Kyiv in three days” narrative is no longer realistic to explain to its own society.
“In the same way, they are beginning to prepare society for the fact that the idea of ‘just give up Donbas’ will not happen either. That is also unrealistic. So they are beginning to say: well, we will achieve the fact that they (Ukraine) will remain non-aligned, for example. That too is a victory. So this transformation is absolutely natural,” he explained.
