Budanov Answered The Most Important Question About Moscow's Plans For Ukraine

• 15.05.2026, 15:21

There is no political will in the Kremlin.

The head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Kyrylo Budanov, has said that Russian Federation has the technical capabilities to launch a nuclear and non-nuclear strike against Ukraine at any moment. As of today, he sees no signs that the Russian Federation is really ready for such actions. Under what conditions would the Kremlin dare to launch a nuclear bombardment?

Moscow was indeed ready to strike Kiev with a Oreshnik missile because of the threat to the Red Square parade, Budanov said in his first interview with British media outlet The Times. In those days, the Russians warned European embassies to evacuate and even talked about a nuclear strike. As the current head of the OP explained, Russia is capable of using nuclear weapons because it has all the technical capabilities to do so, but he saw no real preparation for such an attack.

Media cited the main points of the conversation with Budanov, but there is no video of the interview. During the conversation they touched upon the parade on Red Square and the prisoner exchange that Moscow has promised to hold. In this context recalled the threats of a massive attack on the center of Kiev. The official assured that he did not see preparations for a nuclear strike. According to him, for this to happen, there must be a political decision by the Kremlin.

"Russia is capable of launching a nuclear strike at any moment and at any distance. Its nuclear capabilities make it possible to accomplish such a task. But this is primarily a matter of political will. I have seen no evidence of preparations for a nuclear strike. If there were, I would know," the media quoted Budanov as saying.