Budanov to attend trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi but will not lead Ukraine’s delegation – Presidential Office

Head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov will not lead the Ukrainian delegation at next week’s trilateral talks in the UAE. The Presidential Office denied the information reported by a CBS News journalist.

Presidential communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn said this, according to Censor.NET.

What did the media report?

Earlier, CBS News, citing comments by its correspondent Aidan Stretch, reported that Budanov would lead the Ukrainian delegation at a meeting with US and Russian representatives in Abu Dhabi.

Stretch added that the head of the Presidential Office had said he did not expect a major breakthrough during this round of talks.

Presidential Office’s denial

Lytvyn subsequently denied the CBS News correspondent’s statement that the head of the Presidential Office would lead Ukraine’s delegation. He will only be a member of it.

"No, he did not say he was leading the delegation. He simply said he would be there… He will go there with the delegation. He will not lead it," Lytvyn added.