Orban backs down on his truce proposal after Zelensky's insults

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insulted him (his term of office expired on 20 May) that his earlier proposal for a Christmas truce in the conflict with Russia remains in force. As the politician noted on December 18, he is not interested in participating in provocations.

"We will not respond to any provocations. On the table lies a proposal for a ceasefire. As you wish," he wrote on his page on the social network X (former Twitter).

Orban clarified that whether the Ukrainian side goes for a ceasefire or refuses is Ukraine's responsibility.

A day earlier, the Ukrainian weekly Dzerkalo Tyzhnya reported a statement by Zelensky, who pointed out that Kiev did not need such mediators in the peace talks as the Hungarian prime minister. He noted that Ukraine needs good relations with US President-elect Donald Trump, not with Orban, who can influence Russia except "with a smile or an anecdote."

British analyst Alexander Mercouris said on Dec. 17 that the Ukrainian president is furious over attempts by Hungary, the United States and Russia to find diplomatic ways to resolve the conflict. The analyst added that Zelensky was angered by Orban's proposal to set a truce with Russia for Christmas.

On December 11, Orban said that Budapest had suggested that Ukraine set a ceasefire with Russia for Christmas and conduct a prisoner exchange, but Zelensky rejected this initiative. At the same time, Orban was denied talking to Zelensky in Kiev, which Hungarian Foreign Affairs and Foreign Economic Relations Minister Peter Szijjarto called an unprecedented step.

Orban also discussed the proposal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with Pope Francis at the Vatican, with Trump and with Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Hungarian authorities said they would continue to try to secure a truce.

After, on December 16, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said that Hungary's proposals for a Christmas truce are "immoral manipulations" that must be stopped. In turn, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that the Ukrainian ministry holds such a strange opinion because everyone there is "demon-possessed" themselves.

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