Hungary’s Viktor Orban says Russia Putin meeting is part of ‘peace mission’, EU leaders voice concern
- The Hungarian PM, who recently took the helm of the EU’s presidency, will hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, days after visiting Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Moscow on Friday for a rare meeting with a European leader to discuss peace proposals for Ukraine.
Orbán’s visit came only days after he made a similar unannounced trip to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky and proposed that Ukraine consider agreeing to an immediate ceasefire with Russia.
“The number of countries that can talk to both warring sides is diminishing,” Orbán said. “Hungary is slowly becoming the only country in Europe that can speak to everyone.”
Putin suggested that Orbán had come to Moscow as a representative of the European Council, despite several European officials having condemned the visit.
He said he had discussed the Ukraine situation with Orban, but reiterated his belief that Russia’s proposals should be the key to resolving the conflict. He said he was grateful to Orban for an attempt to restore dialogue between Russia and Europe, but Kyiv was still not willing to stop the conflict.
The Hungarian prime minister, widely seen as having the warmest relations with Vladimir Putin among all European Union leaders, has routinely blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts to assist Ukraine and impose sanctions on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine.
