- author, Gordon Colella
- role, Security correspondent in Kiev
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Viktor Orban, fresh from being sworn in as the rotating president of the European Union, arrived in Ukraine on an unannounced visit on Tuesday.
While in Kiev, the Hungarian prime minister said a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine could speed up negotiations to end the war following a full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.
Orban, a critic of Western support for Ukraine, is seen as the European leader closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who he met with on multiple occasions during his first visit to Ukraine in 12 years.
During their joint speech with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the body language of both men was warm and neither took questions from the media after making their statements.
Mr Orban had previously delayed agreement on a 50 billion euro ($54 billion, £42 billion) EU aid package designed to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia.
But for the next six months he will play an influential role as Europe’s symbol as president of the European Council. On his second day in office, he visited Ukraine for consultations, saying that past differences needed to be resolved and the focus shifted to the future.
“It is vital that European support for Ukraine is maintained at a sufficient level… It is essential that cooperation between European neighbors becomes more meaningful and mutually beneficial,” Zelenskyy said in a statement after the meeting.
In his own statement, Orban stressed the need to cooperate but also said he raised the idea of a ceasefire to speed up negotiations with Russia.
“I have asked the President to consider whether a rapid ceasefire could be used to accelerate peace negotiations. I appreciate his candid dialogue and response.”
“The reason I am coming here for the first time is because the issue of peace is important not only for Ukraine, but for the whole of Europe. This war in which you are suffering has serious implications for European security,” Orban said.
President Zelensky did not publicly respond to the comments.
Later, in a post on X, the Ukrainian leader said Orban’s visit to Ukraine was a “clear message to all of us about the importance of European unity and joint measures.”
“We discussed the path to a just, lasting and equitable peace.”
Many Ukrainians believe a ceasefire would only strengthen Russia’s control over the territory it seized from Ukraine, and they want any negotiations to take place from a position of strength, not weakness.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country was ready to “work with all parties to resolve the issue.”
“This work is difficult and time-consuming but will ultimately yield tangible results,” he told the BBC.
“During his visit, President Zelenskyy held frank and constructive discussions with Prime Minister Orbán about ways to achieve a just peace, not just a ceasefire or peace negotiations.”
The two leaders also discussed bilateral issues, including the 100,000 ethnic Hungarians living in Ukraine.
Orban said the two countries were determined to overcome past differences and he was confident progress would be made on the rights of ethnic Hungarians.
He also wished Ukraine “every success.”
The EU began accession negotiations with Ukraine the week before Hungary took over the EU Council presidency.
