MOSCOW, July 6 – Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban discussed the Ukrainian conflict and Russia’s relations with the European Union (EU) during talks in Moscow Friday, according to the Kremlin.
The surprise visit to Moscow by the Hungarian leader, only a few days after his visit to Kyiv, had angered the EU, US and Kyiv, saying it threatened to undermine the 27-member bloc’s stance on the conflict and stressed that he was not representing Brussels.
The pair “talked about the possible ways of resolving” the Ukraine conflict, Putin said in remarks after a bilateral meeting.
During his speech, Orban – the friendliest leader in the EU to Moscow – said that Moscow and Kiev are very far apart in their views, and many steps would need to be taken to end the war.
Despite this, Orban said that establishing contact was a crucial step, and that Hungary would continue to work in this direction.
Putin noted that it is important for both sides to continue dialogue, despite the current difficult geopolitical situation.
Putin said that Orban had informed him about the recent meetings that the prime minister held in Kiev, including Hungary’s proposals for a ceasefire, which would create necessary conditions for negotiations with Russia.
“I have repeatedly said that we have always been and remain open to discussing a political and diplomatic settlement,” Putin said, adding however that Kiev is still unwilling to abandon the idea of continuing the war “to a victorious end.”
He stressed the importance of achieving a lasting resolution to the conflict, rather than a temporary ceasefire that would allow the Kiev regime to regroup and rearm, adding that all conditions within Moscow’s peace proposal must be met.
Putin further noted that the two leaders exchanged views on Russia-EU ties, which are currently at their lowest point, and the principles of a future security architecture for Europe.
