Top Ukrainian military intelligence official allegedly warns of nation’s collapse if negotiations aren’t underway by the summer. Kyiv denies story.

Officials in Ukraine’s Defense Ministry deny that Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, ever said it, but the news outlet Ukrainska Pravda reported on Monday that Budanov recently told Verkhovna Rada members at a classified meeting that “Ukraine’s very existence” will be at risk if Kyiv doesn’t begin “serious negotiations” before the summer. 

“We urge all media representatives not to spread rumors, unverified, and officially unconfirmed information, especially on matters of defense during the war,” Budanov’s agency said after Ukrainska Pravda’s story. 

“Everyone exchanged glances and fell silent. Apparently, everything is riding on this,” one of the deputies who witnessed these alleged remarks told the news outlet.