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Budanov fails to understand journalist’s question in English and asks for interpreter: "Come here, give me please translate". VIDEO
Head of the Presidential Office and member of Ukraine’s negotiating team Kyrylo Budanov found himself in an awkward situation while speaking to foreign journalists following the talks in Abu Dhabi.
Footage of the incident circulated online, Censor.NET reports.
An interpreter’s help was needed
While speaking to media representatives, Budanov did not immediately understand a question in English: "Has Russia agreed to drop its demand that Ukraine hand over the unoccupied part of Donbas, or is it still insisting on this?"
After a brief pause, he called an interpreter over for help, saying: "Come here, give me please translate." Budanov then added: "I understand; I need time."
Trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi
- On 10 November, US-mediated talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations took place in the UAE. This was the first such meeting since February 2026.
- Before meeting with Russia, Ukraine held talks with representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, NATO and the European Commission. US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner also joined those talks.
- The Ukrainian delegation, led by Foreign Intelligence Service chief Rustem Umerov, includes Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov, Servant of the People faction leader Davyd Arakhamiia, First Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Serhii Kyslytsia and Deputy Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine Vadym Skibitskyi.
- The Russian delegation is led by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Representatives of two directorates of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Igor Kostyukov and Yuri Zhigarlovsky, and Russian Deputy Foreign Ministers Sergei Ryabkov and Mikhail Galuzin will also take part in the meeting in Abu Dhabi.
- NATO is represented in Abu Dhabi by Chief of Staff Geoffrey van Leeuwen, who is the chief strategic adviser to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
- The second day of talks, on 11 November, lasted just under two hours.
- US special representative Jared Kushner said he would meet with Putin on 12 November, followed by a meeting with Zelenskyy.
