MOSCOW, December 12. /TASS/. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s initiative on a Russian-Ukrainian ceasefire makes no sense, and is nothing but an attempt to draw media attention, an adviser to the Ukrainian presidential office, Mikhail Podolyak, said.
"From the point of view of war and peace, it [the initiative] makes no sense. However, it makes sense in the information space, because it will allow Orban to be quoted [by the media]," Podolyak said. "He wants to play the role of a man <…> who can resolve something, to make comments on something."
The Ukrainian official claimed that the proposed ceasefire would play into the hands of Russia.
Earlier, Orban said that Hungary had suggested Ukraine establish a Christmas ceasefire and exchange prisoners with Russia, but the initiative was rejected by Vladimir Zelensky. The prime minister did not specify how the peace proposal was sent to Zelensky and, accordingly, how the response was received.
On Wednesday, Orban had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. One of the main topics of their conversation was the ways to resolve the Ukrainian conflict. After the conversation, the Hungarian government confirmed that Orban will continue his peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. On Monday, the prime minister discussed the issue during a visit to US President-elect Donald Trump at his estate in Florida, and earlier at the Vatican during a meeting with Pope Francis.