Orban says hopes for Russian-Ukrainian prisoner exchange remain alive

Despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 's (his term expired on May 20) refusal to accept a ceasefire on Christmas Day and a large-scale exchange of prisoners of war with Russia, which agreed to it, hope remains. This was stated by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday, December 13, on the air of radio station Kossuth.

"If the sides can come to an agreement with each other, a ceasefire could be possible at Christmas <...>. One side accepted, the other rejected. But there are still a few days until Christmas and this could change," the Magyar Hirlap daily quoted him as saying.

The Hungarian politician noted that Kiev's agreement could make a large number of families happy.

The day before, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Orban had proposed a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on Christmas Eve.

Earlier, on December 11, Orban, after being rebuffed on the ceasefire proposal, said Hungary had done everything in its power and called the Ukrainian leader's decision sad.

Journalist Diana Pachenko said that Zelensky had no right to represent the Ukrainian people after refusing the ceasefire on Christmas Day.

Also on December 11, 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 helping to jointly find a solution to the political and diplomatic crisis in Ukraine, including involving the leaders of the West in the issue.

The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the background of the aggravated situation in the region.