MOSCOW: In a significant diplomatic development, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has proposed a prisoner exchange and a Christmas cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine during a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin announced on Thursday. The proposal is seen as part of Hungary's efforts to mediate a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict. According to Anadolu Agency, the discussion between Putin and Orban took place on Wednesday, covering Ukraine and other pertinent issues. The Kremlin's statement highlighted Orban's interest in facilitating a joint search for political solutions to the conflict, reflecting Hungary's willingness to play a mediating role. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov elaborated that Russia's Federal Security Service had forwarded prisoner exchange proposals to the Hungarian Embassy in Moscow on the same day as the phone conversation. Peskov reiterated Russia's stance of being open to peace talks and its readiness to resume negotiations based on a greements reached in Istanbul in 2022. However, he noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his entourage appeared to reject Orban's proposals, as indicated by Zelenskyy's reaction on social media. Zelenskyy, taking to X, criticized Orban for engaging in dialogue with Putin, expressing hope that the Hungarian premier would not take similar actions with other contentious leaders. He called for solidarity among Kyiv's allies to achieve peace, emphasizing that discussions about the war should not proceed without Ukraine's involvement. The Ukrainian leader stressed that unity should not be compromised for individual gains in international diplomacy. The Kremlin, meanwhile, maintained its support for Orban's efforts to find a peaceful settlement and address humanitarian concerns related to prisoner exchanges, signaling a willingness to continue peace talks. As the international community watches, the unfolding dynamics between Russia, Ukraine, and Hungary could influence future negotiations and dip lomatic engagements in the region.