Orbán reveals that he has proposed a Christmas ceasefire to Putin after Zelensky’s criticism of his call

Follow live the latest news about the war in Ukraine

Follow live the latest news about the war in Ukraine

The Ukrainian president condemns the conversation: “I hope he at least does not call Al Assad”

Dec. 11 () –

The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, has revealed that he has proposed to the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, a Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine and a “large-scale” prisoner exchange, in a response to criticism from the Ukrainian president. , Volodimir Zelensky, who shortly before had reproached the Hungarian president for picking up the phone again to talk to Moscow.

“We hope that at least he does not call (the deposed Syrian president) Bashar al Assad in Moscow to listen to his sermons for an hour too,” said Zelensky, who alluded to the time that Orbán himself confessed to having been on the phone with Putin.

For Zelensky, “it is absolutely clear that achieving real peace and security requires the determination of the United States, the unity of Europe and the unwavering commitment of all partners to the objectives and principles of the United Nations Charter.”

For this reason, he pointed out that “no one should try to reinforce their personal image at the expense of unity” and has advocated, instead, working towards “a shared success.” “There can be no discussions about the war that Russia is waging against Ukraine without Ukraine,” the president stated on his social networks.

Zelensky took the opportunity to thank the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump, and “many” European leaders who “work to find adequate and forceful solutions to have real peace” in Ukraine.

Orbán has also responded on social networks, to justify the “peace efforts” that he has been undertaking since assuming the rotating presidency of the EU Council – in the first days he even traveled to the Russian capital to meet in person with Putin–. “We have proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a large-scale prisoner exchange,” he said.

Hungary’s prime minister has regretted that Zelensky has now “discarded” him. “We have done what we could,” Orbán added, he is one of the few European leaders who has not finished breaking ties with Moscow after the invasion.