MOSCOW. July 5 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban informed him of his talks with the Ukrainian leadership during his recent visit to Kiev.
"Mr. Prime Minister has told me about his recent meetings in Kiev, where he made a number of proposals, in particular, calling for a ceasefire so as to provide preconditions for starting negotiations with Russia," Putin said at a press conference following talks with Orban in Moscow on Friday.
Putin reiterated that he has spoken about Russia's willingness to discuss a political and diplomatic settlement on numerous occasions.
"However, we hear from the other side that they are unwilling to address matters this very way. Ukraine's sponsors keep trying to use that country and their people as a battering ram and a sacrificial lamb in their standoff with Russia," he said.