Media: Zelenskyy's chief of staff Budanov visited Sofia before US talks

Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visited Sofia on 7–8 October before travelling to the United States for talks, Bulgarian media reported. Budanov reportedly spent around 20 hours in the Bulgarian capital, holding a series of unannounced meetings with Bulgarian officials before departing for the US on 8 October, according to faktor.bg, 24chasa.bg and segabg.com.

“I will send an official letter to the government requesting information about the reason for the visit and exactly what discussions were held with Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office,” Kostadin Kostadinov, leader of the Vazrazhdane party, told reporters in parliament, according to BTA.

Former Interior Minister Tsvetan Tsvetanov posted a photograph of himself with Budanov in Sofia. “I am impressed by Kyrylo Budanov's intelligence, strong spirit and determination. I wished him success in his upcoming meetings in the US and expressed hope that his efforts would contribute to achieving a just and lasting peace,” Tsvetanov wrote on Facebook.

The Foreign and Defence Ministries told bTV they had held no meetings with Budanov, while the government provided no information about the visit.

Budanov previously headed Ukraine's military intelligence service before becoming Zelenskyy's chief of staff and one of his most trusted envoys.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov