Orbán calls Putin and then cynically responds to criticism from Zelenskyy
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (facebook.com/orbanviktor)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán cynically responded to criticism from Ukraine regarding his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The President's Office has reacted to this, according to Orbán's Facebook post and a comment from Ukraine's presidential advisor on communications, Dmytro Lytvyn.
"At the end of Hungary's EU presidency, we made new efforts for peace. We proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a major prisoner exchange. How sad that President Zelenskyy has clearly rejected and ruled it out today. We did what we could!" Orbán wrote.
However, as explained by the presidential advisor on communications Dmytro Lytvyn, Hungary once again did not discuss anything with Ukraine.
"As always, Hungary did not inform Ukraine about its contacts with Moscow. As always, Ukraine did not authorize Hungary to do anything. As always, Ukraine works daily to free prisoners, and relevant negotiations on a significant exchange by the end of the year have been ongoing for two weeks," Lytvyn noted.
He emphasized that Ukraine is committed to achieving full peace and is doing everything in coordination with its partners to achieve it. He specifically mentioned cooperation with America, Europe, and other global partners.
"As always, what is needed is not PR, but a just peace, and not talk, but reliable security guarantees," Lytvyn concluded.
Earlier today, Orbán held a phone conversation with Putin. Following criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Orbán claimed he was making efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine.
For more on how Zelenskyy reacted to Orbán's initiative to call the Russian President, see a separate RBC-Ukraine report.
