Matviyenko admitted the start of negotiations with Ukraine in 2025

The negotiation process with Ukraine will start in 2025, there is no doubt about it. Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko told reporters on December 24.

"Of course, next year the negotiation process will start, definitely. But the negotiation process, in my opinion, will be very difficult," she said.

Matviyenko emphasized that Russia is ready for compromises in the course of negotiations with the Ukrainian side, but does not intend to give up "not even an inch" on the basic conditions. According to her, there is a possibility of ending the conflict if Russia's outlined requirements are met.

"And we have repeatedly said, we are ready to sit down at the negotiating table at any time. But what we have passed with the Minsk agreements - there will be no more repetition," Matvienko said.

On the same day, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that the Special Military Operation (SMO) will end in 2025 either with a peace agreement or complete elimination of one of the parties.

For his part, the Kremlin's official representative, Dmitriy Peskov, said that there was no movement towards openness to negotiations on the part of Ukraine. He specified that Russia was open for the settlement of the situation on the Ukrainian side, but Kiev did not demonstrate its readiness.

Prior to that, on December 23, Hungarian Foreign and Foreign Economic Relations Minister Péter Szijjártó said that the Christmas truce between Russia and Ukraine could be a great help for the start of a peaceful settlement of the crisis.

He noted that it could have saved the lives of hundreds or thousands of people. According to the minister, Hungary's task was to make a proposal for a Christmas truce, and the rest depends on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (his term of office expired on May 20). He will be judged by the Ukrainian people, Szijjártó added.

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