Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto stated on Sunday on Kossuth Radio that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declined a request for a phone call made by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, with the latter wanting to discuss a possible ceasefire between Kiev and Moscow during the Christmas period.
Szijjarto shared that he sent the request to relevant Ukrainian officials following Orban's talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which was soon denied. Hungary's foreign minister labeled the response as a "totally unprecedented gesture in diplomacy."
"Negotiations are necessary, but for peace talks, a truce [on the battlefield] is necessary," Szijjarto commented, adding that Hungary has tried its best to use its European Council presidency to "achieve a ceasefire and start peace talks."
