Kremlin: Russia Backs Orban's POW Swap, Ukraine Rejects

Kremlin: Russia Backs Orban's POW Swap, Ukraine Rejects

Moscow: The Kremlin announced on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin fully backed a proposal from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for a prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine. However, according to the Kremlin, Ukraine appeared to have rejected the idea.

Orban presented the proposal during a phone call with Putin, as stated by Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. "Prime Minister Orban suggested a significant prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine and proposed a Christmas ceasefire," Peskov explained. On the same day, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) submitted the proposal to the Hungarian embassy, Peskov added. Based on Ukraine's public response, he noted that Kyiv seemed to have dismissed Orban's suggestions.

Peskov emphasized that Russia remains committed to peace talks and supports Orban's efforts to resolve humanitarian issues, particularly concerning prisoners of war. "Russia has always been open to peace negotiations and has reiterated its readiness to resume talks based on the Istanbul Agreements of 2022," Peskov concluded.

Earlier, Orban's chief of staff confirmed that the Hungarian leader had proposed both a Christmas ceasefire and the prisoner swap during his call with Putin. While the ceasefire idea was seen as "worthy of consideration," Orban’s proposal for the POW exchange was met with full support from Putin, according to Gergely Gulyas.

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