Christmas Attack on Ukraine – Donald Tusk commented on the massive missile attack carried out by Russia on Ukrainian cities on Christmas Eve, emphasizing that at the same time, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban referred to Vladimir Putin as “an honest partner of the Hungarians.”

Christmas Attack on Ukraine

On the night between Tuesday and Wednesday, Russia launched a massive assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, deploying 184 missiles and drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. They reported intercepting 59 missiles and 54 drones, with another 52 unmanned units failing to reach their targets. The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the attack was aimed at Ukraine’s energy facilities.

Tusk also referenced Viktor Orban’s interview with the Hungarian daily Magyar Nemzet, in which Orban described Putin as “an honest partner.”

Did Tusk Forget Orban’s Proposal?

As Viktor Orban wrote on Platform X:
“During the conclusion of Hungary’s EU presidency, we made renewed efforts for peace. We proposed a Christmas ceasefire and a broad exchange of prisoners. They say President Zelensky has unequivocally rejected and dismissed it today. We’ve done everything we could!”

The Hungarian initiative was confirmed by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who stated yesterday that, based on President Volodymyr Zelensky’s remarks, Kyiv has rejected all of Orban’s proposals.

Trump Criticizes Zelensky’s “Foolish Decisions”

Meanwhile, on his social media platforms, President-elect Trump criticized Zelensky and the Biden administration, saying:
“…The most dangerous thing right now is what’s happening with Zelensky’s decision – presumably with the approval of President (Biden) – to start firing rockets into Russia. I think this is a serious escalation. I think it’s a foolish decision.”

Openly calling Zelensky’s decisions “foolish” is unlikely to improve their mutual relations. This statement highlights Trump’s highly critical stance toward Zelensky’s policies. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that Zelensky’s criticism of Orban was not well-received by Trump and his circle.

Orban’s Christmas Message

In his Christmas message, Orban also described Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a “friend” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “good friend.”

The Tradition of Christmas Truces

In Western countries, the Christmas truce holds significant symbolic value. This is largely due to the legendary events of World War I. On Christmas Eve in 1914, in the trenches near Ypres, an unexpected reconciliation occurred between German soldiers and Welsh fusiliers. Soldiers from both sides sang carols together, raised toasts, and exchanged greetings. On no man’s land, they even played a game of football. This story is widely known in the West, making the rejection of similar initiatives potentially damaging to Zelensky’s image.