Viktor Orban arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday for an unannounced go to having simply taken over as rotating president of the European Union.
Whereas in Kyiv, the Hungarian prime minister mentioned a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine might pace up negotiations to finish the warfare that has adopted Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
Mr Orban has been a critic of Western help for Ukraine and is seen because the European chief closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was his first go to to Ukraine in 12 years, though he has met Mr Putin repeatedly throughout that point.
Throughout his joint look with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky the physique language between them was not heat and neither took questions from the media after they gave their statements.
Mr Orban has beforehand slowed settlement on a €50bn ($54bn; £42bn) EU assist package deal designed to help Ukraine in its defence towards Russia.
However for the following six months his place as head of the European Council means he has an influential position as a figurehead for Europe. He got here to Ukraine on his second day in that position for discussions, saying there was a necessity to unravel earlier disagreements and concentrate on the longer term.
In his assertion following their assembly, Mr Zelensky mentioned it was “essential to have Europe’s help for Ukraine maintained at ample stage… it’s necessary for cooperation between all of the neighbours in Europe to grow to be extra significant and mutually useful”.
In his personal assertion, Mr Orban burdened the necessity to work collectively but additionally mentioned he had raised the concept of a ceasefire to hasten negotiations with Russia.
“I explored this risk with the president and I’m grateful for his sincere solutions and negotiation,” he mentioned.
President Zelensky didn’t reply to these feedback.
Nonetheless, many Ukrainians imagine such a ceasefire would merely cement Russia’s maintain over territory it has taken from Ukraine and, if negotiations had been to happen, they would like them to be performed from a place of energy fairly than on the again foot.
Ukraine’s Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned his nation was open to “work with everybody and remedy issues”.
“This work is tough and time-consuming, however it will definitely yields tangible outcomes,” he informed the BBC.
“Through the go to, President Zelensky had a candid however constructive dialogue with Prime Minister Orban about methods to realize a simply peace, not merely a ceasefire or peace talks.”
The 2 leaders additionally mentioned bilateral points together with the 100,000 ethnic Hungarians who reside in Ukraine.
The EU opened membership talks for Ukraine the week earlier than Hungary assumed the EU Council Presidency.
