PM Orban’s Peace Mission May Have Been Kyiv’s Last Chance

From a marginal liaison, PM Orban has turned into a dangerous "image politician" on the pages of leading Western newspapers.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (Photo: Europress/AFP/JOHN THYS)

And although this assumption has drawn criticism in recent days, the Ukrainian foreign ministry’s latest statement - also attacking PM Orban’s ceasefire proposal - offers unambiguous support for it. As the statement declared: “We call on the Hungarian side to cease its immoral manipulations under the guise of peace and Christmas, and to refrain from unilateral engagements with the aggressor state, which undermine joint efforts to restore a just peace. The only obstacle to peace is Russia and its war-obsessed dictator. Ukraine strives for peace on its land like no other nation in the world."

Yet those who - in connection with this statement - question not just the Ukrainians sharpness of vision, but also their sincerity, are likely not far from the truth themselves.

Because, of course, there can be discussions and debates on the question of whether it was a wise decision from Kyiv to brush aside what was likely its last opportunity for a Christmas ceasefire before the inauguration of the U.S. president- who will inevitably become the de facto financier of Ukraine’s war budget. What is less credible, however, is the claim that Ukraine is striving for peace more than any other country in the world.

Let's recall the fact that, since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, there have been at least five documented attempts at peace talks. While the failure of these efforts cannot solely be blamed on Kyiv, it can be said without exaggeration that none of these negotiations collapsed due to Moscow’s outright refusal.

Furthermore, speaking of the possibility of a Christmas ceasefire, let us recall that just last January, it was President Zelensky himself who dismissed as “fake” a ceasefire proposal initiated by Putin for Orthodox Christmas. Citing Moscow’s intent “to use Christmas to halt Ukraine’s advance in the Donbas,” Ukraine's ostensibly peace-seeking president rejected the overture outright.

Taking into account PM Orban’s remarks this summer at Tusvanyos - that time is on the side of pro-peace politics - and Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20 as the 47th President of the United States, a steadfast ally of Mr. Orban’s peace policy, it becomes clear that Kyiv’s diplomatic room for maneuver toward peace is rapidly shrinking. In this light, it is entirely possible that PM Orban’s Christmas ceasefire proposal was Kyiv’s last such opportunity for the foreseeable future.

The author is a senior analyst at the Szazadveg Foundation for Public Affairs