Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Moscow on Friday for a rare meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a move that has drawn condemnation from Kyiv and several European leaders and officials. The meeting was primarily focused on discussing peace proposals for Ukraine.
Orbán’s trip to Moscow followed an unannounced visit to Ukraine just days earlier, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy 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 remarked. “Hungary is slowly becoming the only country in Europe that can speak to everyone.”
As Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the EU at the beginning of July, Putin suggested during televised comments at the start of their meeting that Orbán had come to Moscow as a representative of the European Council. This assertion was swiftly dismissed by several European officials, including leaders from Germany, Denmark, and Estonia, who stated that Orbán had no mandate beyond discussing bilateral relations.
During the meeting, Orbán emphasised to Putin that “Europe needs peace,” and sought Putin’s perspective on existing peace plans and the feasibility of a ceasefire preceding potential peace talks.
Following their discussions, Putin reiterated a longstanding demand for Ukraine to withdraw its troops from four regions that Russia claims to have annexed in 2022 as a precondition for peace talks. This demand has been firmly rejected by Ukraine and its Western allies, who view it as tantamount to asking Ukraine to relinquish its own territory.
Putin further stressed that Russia would not agree to any ceasefire or temporary halt in hostilities that would allow Ukraine “to recoup losses, regroup and rearm.”
In addition to the focus on Ukraine, Orbán and Putin discussed bilateral relations, with Putin noting that they also exchanged views on the current state of Russia-EU relations, which he described as “now at their lowest point.”
Orbán’s visit to Moscow and his dialogue with Putin have highlighted Hungary’s unique position in being able to communicate with both sides in the conflict, but it has also underscored the divisions within Europe over how to approach the war in Ukraine.
