Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected a proposal for a Christmas cease-fire with Russia.
“We proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange. It’s sad that Zelenskyy clearly rejected and ruled this out today. We did what we could,” Orban wrote on the X social media platform.
The Ukrainian presidency didn’t instantly verify the data.
Earlier, the Kremlin stated “There was a thorough exchange of views on Ukrainian issues” and that Putin stated Kyiv had adopted a “destructive” place that dominated out a peace settlement.
The name was initiated at Orban’s request, the Kremlin stated, and got here a day after Hungary’s prime diplomat stated his nation would forge forward with its self-styled Ukraine “peace mission.”
“Viktor Orban expressed interest in assisting the joint search for political-diplomatic paths to resolve the crisis,” the Kremlin stated.
Orban confirmed “an hour-long conversation” with the Russian chief, warning that “these are the most dangerous weeks of the war”.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy criticized Orban for making the decision.
“No one should boost personal image at the expense of unity, everyone should focus on shared success. Unity in Europe has always been key to achieving it,” he stated on X.
Ukraine denied having mentioned a cease-fire and prisoner change with Russia.
“As always, the Hungarian side did not discuss anything with Ukraine. As always, the Hungarian side did not warn (us) about its contacts with Moscow,” presidential aide Dmytro Lytvyn stated in a written assertion, contradicting Orban’s earlier declare.
Orban met U.S. President-elect Donald Trump at his Florida property this week. The Republican has stated he’ll push for a speedy finish to the battle.
The Hungarian chief – the closest political companion of each Trump and Putin within the European Union – has repeatedly referred to as for peace talks and refused to ship navy support to Ukraine since Russia launched its offensive in February 2022.
He infuriated fellow EU leaders in July by conducting breakaway diplomacy with Russia on ending the battle, simply days after taking up the bloc’s rotating six-month presidency.
Orban and Putin additionally mentioned power tasks, the Kremlin stated.
To the frustration of Brussels, Budapest stays a serious purchaser of Russian power virtually three years after Moscow ordered troops into Ukraine.
Source: www.dailysabah.com