Russia is being forced to lower its stated goals in the war against Ukraine as reality on the battlefield undermines Moscow’s original objectives, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, said on Thursday, May 21. Speaking during the Kyiv Stratcom Forum 2026, Budanov said Russian officials have had to continuously adapt their messaging to explain the lack of success in achieving earlier war aims.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “Time passes, and under the influence of the unpleasant reality they face, they are forced to find answers for their society,” Budanov said, according to Ukrinform. “And each time this bar gets lower. Everyone sees this.” Until January 2026, Kyrylo Budanov served as the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, known as HUR. Both before and after leaving the post, Budanov has remained one of the key Ukrainian officials involved in negotiations and strategic discussions related to ending the war with Russia. According to Budanov, Russia’s early narrative of capturing Kyiv “in three days” later evolved into taking control of Donbas “at any cost.” “About a week ago, if I’m not mistaken, another new narrative appeared: ‘Ukraine must be a non-nuclear state and must not join any military alliances,’” he said. “This is already a new goal, meaning the bar is lowered again.”