Russia backs Orban's efforts for Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine By Dmitry Antonov and Krisztina Than December 12, 202410:44 AM CST Updated 13 days ago SummaryCompaniesPutin supports push for Christmas ceasefire and POW swap Ukraine scolded Orban for call to PutinDiscussions of peace multiply after Trump victory.

MOSCOW/BUDAPEST, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin backs Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's efforts to achieve a Christmas ceasefire in Ukraine and a major exchange of prisoners of war, the Kremlin said on Thursday, even though Kyiv has scoffed at the idea.Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine has left tens of thousands of dead, displaced millions and triggered the biggest crisis in relations between Moscow and the West since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.Orban made the proposals in a call to Putin on Wednesday, the Kremlin and Hungary said, without giving more details."The Russian side fully supports Orban's efforts aimed at finding a peaceful settlement and resolving humanitarian issues related to the prisoner exchange," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) fleshed out details on a potential prisoner exchange to the Hungarian embassy, Peskov said.Shortly after the Orban-Putin call, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy criticised the Hungarian leader for undermining Western unity and appeared to mock Hungary's peace efforts.