Zelensky launches attack on Orban

The Ukrainian leader has said he would not allow the Hungarian Prime Minister to mediate potential peace talks with Russia

Ukraine does not need mediators such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in potential peace talks with Russia and intends to maintain direct contacts with US President-elect Donald Trump on the issue, Vladimir Zelensky has said.

Orban has urged a Christmas ceasefire in the hostilities between Ukraine and Russia, describing it as a last-ditch attempt to mediate a diplomatic resolution of the conflict. He floated the idea last week to both Kiev and Moscow, as well as to Trump, whom he personally met at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Zelensky, however, rejected the offer.

Speaking at a public meeting in Lviv on Tuesday, Zelensky said “We do not need countries … like Hungary, like Prime Minister Orban [to be a mediator]. It will not work, I will not let him in, and people like him.” 

He further said that he expects “direct contacts” with Washington after Trump’s inauguration, which will show which points of his ‘peace formula’ the new president supports.

“We are a strong country; we have shown this on the battlefield … Who else in Europe has such an example? No one. Does Orban have such an army? No. How will he put pressure on [Russian President] Putin – a joke, a smile? “ Zelensky asked.

Orban met with Trump two days before talking to Putin by phone. After the conversation, the Kremlin announced that the Hungarian prime minister had proposed a Christmas Day truce and large-scale prisoner-swap between Moscow and Kiev. The Russian government responded by sending its ideas for a POW exchange to the Hungarian embassy in Moscow, according to the Kremlin.

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Hungary reacts to Kiev’s ‘unprecedented gesture’

Orban said that Zelensky had “clearly rejected” his proposed ceasefire. The latter accused the Hungarian leader of trying to “boost his personal image at the expense of [EU] unity” in support of Kiev.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto then revealed that the Ukrainian leadership turned down a phone call request from Orban and did so in a manner that is “quite unprecedented in diplomacy.”

Trump has repeatedly promised to end the Ukraine conflict within a day of taking office. He met with Zelensky this month in Paris along with French President Emmanuel Macron for talks centered on the Ukraine crisis. Trump, who was reportedly reluctant to meet Zelensky, said afterwards that he wanted the hostilities to end as soon as possible.

Moscow has repeatedly stressed that it’s ready to resume the negotiations. It has urged Kiev to accept the new realities “on the ground.” Putin cited the complete withdrawal of all Ukrainian forces from all Russian territories as a key prerequisite for peace talks.