The Kremlin has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin fully supports a prisoner exchange proposal put forth by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. However, Russia alleges that Ukraine has rejected the proposal.
According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the FSB (Federal Security Service) sent a detailed proposal to the Hungarian embassy regarding the prisoner exchange.
Despite Russia’s apparent willingness to engage in such a humanitarian gesture, Ukraine has reportedly declined the offer.
The Hungarian Prime Minister’s office also confirmed the proposal, suggesting that a Christmas ceasefire was part of the initiative.
While Russia expressed openness to the ceasefire idea, Ukraine appears to have dismissed both proposals.
This development comes as the war in Ukraine continues, with both sides suffering significant losses.
The exchange of prisoners could have been a significant humanitarian step, but the ongoing conflict and geopolitical tensions have hindered such efforts.
Russia has repeatedly expressed its readiness for peace talks, citing the Istanbul Agreements of 2022 as a potential basis for negotiations.
However, Ukraine has been cautious about engaging in direct talks with Russia, given the ongoing hostilities and Russia’s military actions.