The State Duma assessed Orban's words about the deadline for the end of the Ukrainian conflict

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's words about the end of the Ukrainian conflict in 2025 may be true. State Duma deputy Aleksey Chepa said this on Tuesday, 24 December.

According to the parliamentarian, the pace of settlement will largely depend on the elections in Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, Orban said that the Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine will end in 2025. According to him, the Ukrainian conflict may end either with a peace agreement or the complete elimination of one of the parties, the website aif.ru reported.

"I am also sure that the conflict will end in the coming year. Of course, if some extraordinary steps are taken on the part of NATO, the process may be delayed. I also think that much will depend on the upcoming elections in Ukraine - they must take place," Chepa emphasized in a conversation with Lenta.Ru.

In his opinion, the result will not be in favor of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (his powers expired in May).

The politician also added that during the years of confrontation, the country has already practically lost its statehood, having fallen into complete dependence on the West, and it will not be easy for it to recover.

Earlier, on December 23, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said that the Christmas truce between Russia and Ukraine could be a great help to start 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 propose a Christmas truce, and the rest depends on the Ukrainian president himself. He will be judged by the Ukrainian people, Szijjártó added.

Before that, on December 19, Szijjártó pointed to Ukraine's ugly campaign against Hungary in response to the Christmas ceasefire proposal. He added that Hungary created the opportunity for the ceasefire, while Zelensky, in turn, "constantly provokes us" in the international arena. In addition, Szijjártó said on December 16 that there was no support in the EU for a ceasefire in Ukraine at Christmas. According to the minister, the initiative was also rejected by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiga.

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

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