Viktor Orban, Prime Minister of Hungary, landed in Kyiv for discussions with Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, as communicated by Orban’s press secretary. According to Bertalan Havasi, Orban’s media spokesperson, the priority of these talks is the potential for establishing peace. Additionally, the conversation is anticipated to delve into the bilateral relations between Hungary and Ukraine.
The visit of Orban, a vocal critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, occurred as Hungary undertakes the rotating presidency of the European Union Council. Orban, known for being Russian President Vladimir Putin’s strongest supporter among EU leaders, has notably countered EU actions to back Ukraine in its defense against Russian hostility since the invasion in February 2022.
Orban indicated to Putin in the previous year that Hungary had no intention of confronting Russia. Despite this, in early 2024, EU leaders had to spend weeks persuading the Hungarian Prime Minister to lift his opposition to €50 billion new aid for Ukraine.
Recently, paving the path for Ukraine’s potential membership, the EU has initiated membership negotiations with Ukraine. This move provides Ukraine with a political uplift amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. However, the road to joining the bloc isn’t easy and is laden with challenges. – Reuters
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