Hungary’s Orbán calls for ceasefire on visit to Kiev

Viktor Orban arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday for an unannounced visit, having just assumed the role of rotating president of the European Union.

While in Kiev, the Hungarian prime minister said a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine could speed up negotiations to end the war that followed Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Orban has been critical of Western support for Ukraine and is seen as the European leader closest to Russia. President Vladimir Putin. This was his first visit to Ukraine in 12 years, although he met Putin repeatedly during that period.

During his joint appearance with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the body language between them was not warm and neither of them responded to media questions after giving their statements.

Orban has previously watered down agreement on a €50 billion ($54 billion; £42 billion) EU aid package aimed at supporting Ukraine in its defense against Russia.

But over the next six months, his position as head of the European Council means he will have an influential role as a figurehead for Europe. He came to Ukraine on his second day in that role for discussions, saying it was necessary to resolve past differences and focus on the future.

In his statement after the meeting, Zelensky said it was “very important that Europe’s support for Ukraine is maintained at a sufficient level… it is important that cooperation between all of Europe’s neighbors becomes more meaningful and mutually beneficial.”

In his own statement, Orbán stressed the need to work together, but also said he raised the idea of ​​a ceasefire to speed up negotiations with Russia.

“I explored this possibility with the president and am grateful for his honest responses and negotiation,” he said.

President Zelensky did not respond to these comments.

However, many Ukrainians believe that such a ceasefire would simply cement Russia’s dominance over the territory it took from Ukraine and, if negotiations were to take place, would prefer them to be conducted from a position of strength rather than on the back foot. .

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country is open to “working with everyone and solving problems”.

“This work is difficult and time-consuming, but it eventually produces tangible results,” he told the BBC.

“During the visit, President Zelensky had a frank but constructive discussion with Prime Minister Orban about ways to achieve a just peace, not simply a ceasefire or peace talks.”

The two leaders also discussed bilateral issues, including the 100,000 ethnic Hungarians residing in Ukraine.

The EU opened accession negotiations for Ukraine a week before Hungary took over the presidency of the EU Council.