Alleged quote by Budanov from closed session with MPs, disseminated by media, is not true - Defense Intelligence

The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has denied the information disseminated by the media that the head of the department, Kyrylo Budanov, allegedly told MPs during a closed session about "processes that are very dangerous for the existence of Ukraine" in the absence of negotiations on the settlement of the war by the summer.

This was reported by the press service of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

"The Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine draws the attention of the media and the public that the alleged quote by the head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine from a closed, classified secret, session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, disseminated in the media, is not true," the message says.

The Defense Intelligence called on the media not to spread rumors, unverified and officially unconfirmed information, in particular regarding issues of defense in war, which "individual politicians can distort" in their own interests, using journalists for this.

"We emphasize that the dissemination of any reports that are allegedly being discussed at official meetings under the seal of secrecy with the participation of the military-political leadership of the state harms the security of the state and is used by the enemy in its own interests," the department added.

We will remind, today the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, citing a source, reported that the head of the Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, allegedly stated at a closed meeting in the Verkhovna Rada that negotiations on the settlement of the war must begin by the summer, otherwise "processes that are very dangerous for the existence of Ukraine" may be launched.