Zelenskyy Criticizes Orbán-Putin Phone Call: “Let’s Hope He Won’t Call Assad Next”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s phone call with Vladimir Putin, describing it as unhelpful in achieving real peace in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy stated that genuine peace and guarantees of security for Ukraine can only be achieved with American and European unity in common adherence to the principles of the United Nations Charter.

He reiterated that discussions or negotiations regarding the end of the war in which Ukraine does not play a central role cannot take place, and expressed his thanks to US President-elect Donald Trump and European leaders for their assistance in searching for solutions to realizing a just end to Russia’s war.

“It is absolutely clear that achieving real peace and guaranteed security requires that one should not play for personal image at the expense of unity – instead, the focus should be on shared success. Unity in Europe has always brought success,” Zelenskyy stated, “We all hope that Viktor Orbán won’t go as far as calling Assad in Moscow to listen to his hour-long lectures as well.”

On Hungary’s initiative, Orbán and Putin held a phone call on December 11 in which they discussed the prospect of peace in Ukraine.