Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made an unannounced visit to Kyiv today, marking his first visit to Ukraine since 2012. According to Bertalan Havasi, press secretary of the Hungarian Prime Minister, Orban is scheduled to hold talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the main topic of discussion being the possibility of peace.
In an interview with Hungarian Index prior to his visit, Orban stated that he was taking “the first steps towards peace” in Kyiv. However, reports indicate that the visit is secret and no agreements are set to be signed during the meeting between Orban and Zelensky. The Hungarian government’s stance on the war in Ukraine differs significantly from that of the majority of EU and NATO members, as Budapest calls for peace negotiations without preconditions, a stance that is unacceptable to Kyiv.
Orban became the second European leader to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the two-year long war in 2023 and was the only EU leader to congratulate Putin on his election victory in March 2024. This has raised eyebrows due to Hungary’s unique position on the conflict in Ukraine.
Overall, the visit highlights the complex dynamics at play in the region and the varying perspectives of different European leaders on the issue of peace and conflict resolution.