Russia speaks out about ceasefire proposal with Ukraine

(Dan Tri) - The Kremlin has responded to the proposal about the possibility of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine at Christmas.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Photo: Reuters).

"First of all, Trump's team is not in charge of the White House. That's the first thing. Biden's team is in the White House," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on December 16.

The Kremlin spokesman made the statement while commenting on the proposal for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire by Christmas.

Earlier, Mr. Mike Waltz, who was nominated by US President-elect Donald Trump as national security advisor, said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with him and Mr. Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort on December 9. This meeting took place two days before the Hungarian Prime Minister spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Accordingly, Mr. Orban proposed a ceasefire by Christmas and a large-scale prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kiev.

Speaking to CBS News on December 15, Waltz declined to say whether Prime Minister Orban would convey a message from Trump to Putin. However, Waltz said the incoming Trump administration wants Russia and Ukraine to stop fighting, and if there is a ceasefire as a first step, the US would consider it carefully.

"Mr. Orban is in constant contact with Russian officials and he clearly has a good relationship with President-elect Trump, and I hope the whole world wants to see a ceasefire," Mr. Waltz told CBS .

However, in a social media post on December 11, Mr. Orban said the Ukrainian leader had clearly rejected the ceasefire he proposed.

On his personal page, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky downplayed Mr. Orban's diplomatic efforts, claiming that the Hungarian leader was only trying to boost his personal image by sacrificing solidarity within the EU.

Speaking to reporters today, the Kremlin spokesman said it was too early to consider the possibility of deploying peacekeeping forces to Ukraine because the Kiev government refused to negotiate with Moscow.

"Ukraine still does not want to participate in any form of negotiations. Moreover, Mr. Zelensky issued a decree prohibiting the holding of negotiations," Mr. Peskov said.

According to the Russian president's spokesman, talks on Ukraine can be resumed based on the Istanbul agreements.

"In the current situation, we will continue our special military operation. There are no plans for negotiations at the moment," he noted.

"However, President Putin has repeatedly stated that this is the basis on which negotiations can be restarted," Peskov added.

He pointed out that it was Ukraine that withdrew from the talks in Istanbul, Türkiye.

President Zelensky has repeatedly asserted that his 10-point "peace formula" is the only viable roadmap to ending the conflict.

Meanwhile, Russia said that Ukraine's plan was "illusory" and "far from reality". Moscow has always maintained that any solution must begin with Ukraine stopping military activities and acknowledging "territorial realities" and pledging neutrality.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-len-tieng-ve-de-xuat-ngung-ban-voi-ukraine-20241216183047803.htm