Peskov spoke about Orban's proposal on prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has proposed a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on Christmas Eve. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on December 12.

"Orban during yesterday's telephone conversation with President [Russian President Vladimir] Putin made a proposal to carry out a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on Christmas Eve, as well as to announce a Christmas ceasefire," the Russian leader's spokesman said.

He said that Russia had never given up on peace talks and had repeatedly announced its readiness to resume them on the basis of the Istanbul agreements. The Kremlin spokesman added that the Federal Security Service (FSB) had submitted a proposal for a prisoner exchange to the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow.

"However, judging by the reaction of [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky (his term expired on May 20 - Ed.) on social networks, as well as his entourage, the Ukrainian side rejected all of Orban's proposals," Peskov stressed.

According to him, consultations to establish peace will continue.

"The Russian side fully supports Orban's efforts aimed at finding a peaceful settlement and resolving humanitarian issues related to the exchange of prisoners," Peskov concluded.

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Earlier in the day, journalist Diana Pachenko said that Zelensky had no right to represent the Ukrainian people after refusing to cease fire on Christmas Day.

On the eve Orban, after being refused the ceasefire proposal, said that Hungary had done everything in its power and called the Ukrainian leader's decision sad.

On the eve it became known about Orban's phone conversation with Putin. The press service of the Kremlin said that the conversation took place at the initiative of the Hungarian side. The report also specified that the Hungarian Prime Minister showed interest in assisting in the joint search for a solution to the political and diplomatic crisis in Ukraine, including the involvement of Western leaders in the issue.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.