Zelenskiy criticises Orban over phone call made to Russia

12/12/2024 6:12

Ukrainian President Volodymyr

Zelenskiy criticised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on

Wednesday for discussing Ukraine in a phone call with Russian

leader Vladimir Putin.



Orban, who has had closer ties with Putin than other

European leaders throughout Russia's 33-month-old war in

Ukraine, said on X that Wednesday's call lasted an hour and that

"these are the most dangerous weeks" of the war.



"No one should boost (their) personal image at the expense

of unity," Zelenskiy said on X in comments that appeared to mock

Orban's self-styled attempts to launch a "peace mission" for

Ukraine.



"We all hope that Orban at least won't call Assad in Moscow

to listen to his hour-long lectures as well," Zelenskiy said,

referring to Russia's decision to grant overthrown Syrian

President Bashar al-Assad political asylum.



Replying to Zelenskiy on X, Orban said Hungary had

proposed a "Christmas ceasefire" and a prisoner exchange but

that Zelenskiy had "clearly rejected and ruled this out". Orban

did not spell out exactly when or how he had proposed such a

truce, or whether the same offer was made to Putin.



Ukrainian officials have consistently said that a

ceasefire would play into Russia's hands, as it could freeze

current front lines with Russia holding about 20% of Ukrainian

territory.



The Kremlin said Putin had told Orban during the phone call

that Kyiv's stance excluded the possibility of a peaceful

settlement to the war.



The phone call came at a sensitive diplomatic moment in the

war in Ukraine as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has called

for an immediate ceasefire and a swift end to the war.



Kyiv has repeatedly called for unity among its allies on

isolating Putin and has said any discussions on the war must

involve Ukraine.



When German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke to Putin in

November, Zelenskiy said this had opened a Pandora's box that

undermined efforts to isolate Putin and end the war.



"There can be no discussions about the war that Russia wages

against Ukraine without Ukraine," Zelenskiy said on Wednesday.