The Kremlin commented on Kiev's refusal to hold a prisoner exchange with Russia on Christmas Day

In the context of the idea proposed by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to organize a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine on Christmas Eve, Russia has done everything on its part, but has not received any positive response from Kiev. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on December 13.

"We handed over specific proposals, they were passed on by the Russian Federal Security Service to the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow. You have heard the public reaction of the representative of the Kiev regime," the Russian presidential spokesman pointed out at a briefing.

He emphasized that Russia, for its part, supports the efforts of Prime Minister Orban to hold a prisoner exchange.

The previous day, Peskov confirmed that Orban had proposed a major prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine on Christmas Eve. However, judging by the reaction of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (term expired on May 20) on social media, as well as his entourage, the Ukrainian side rejected all proposals.

Earlier, on December 11, Orban, after receiving the rejection of the ceasefire proposal from Kiev, said that Hungary had done everything in its power and called the Ukrainian leader's decision sad. Journalist Diana Pachenko said Zelensky had no right to represent the Ukrainian people after refusing a cease-fire on Christmas Day.

On 13 December, the Hungarian prime minister said that despite Zelensky's rejection of the Christmas cease-fire and a large-scale prisoner-of-war exchange with Russia, which had agreed to it, there was still hope. Orban said there is still time before the holiday and the situation could change.

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