RT reported that at a press conference on December 23, when asked whether Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico had proposed a meeting between Russia and the US, Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov said: “We have received a number of proposals from different countries. However, I will not name them specifically so as not to influence potential developments.”
US President-elect Donald Trump has said he can quickly resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Last week, Mr Trump said he was ready to talk to Mr Putin as soon as possible. However, the Kremlin said there were no specific plans for a meeting.
According to media reports, Trump’s team is considering a freeze on the Russia-Ukraine conflict along the current lines. However, both Russia and Ukraine have rejected the idea as unacceptable. Moscow demands that Kiev abandon its plans to join NATO and recognize Crimea and four other regions that have been annexed by Russia.
Previous peace talks between Russia and Ukraine held in Belarus and Türkiye collapsed in the spring of 2022, with both sides accusing each other of making unrealistic demands. President Putin said the Ukrainian side withdrew abruptly despite previously agreeing to neutralize the country and limit its military.
In 2024, a senior US State Department official, Victoria Nuland, said Washington and its allies had advised Kiev not to agree to the terms demanded by Moscow.
Countries such as Switzerland, Türkiye and Saudi Arabia have expressed their willingness to host talks between Russia and Ukraine, while China, Brazil and Indonesia have proposed roadmaps to end the conflict.
Hungary and Slovakia have taken a different stance from other NATO members, calling for a diplomatic solution to the conflict rather than unconditionally supporting Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Orban recently discussed the Ukraine conflict in detail with President Putin by phone. Meanwhile, Slovakian Prime Minister Fico made a surprise visit to Moscow on December 23 and said that Ukraine's failure to renew the gas transit contract would cause huge losses for the Slovak economy.
Slovakia still receives gas from Russia via Ukraine, a move that continues to raise tensions in the region.
Despite the willingness of many countries to mediate, the prospect of a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine remains remote, as both sides continue to make difficult demands. A meeting between Putin and Trump, if it takes place, could be a significant opportunity to change the situation, but it is too early to set expectations.
