Orban flies in to meet Putin and immediately offers Hungary for Ukraine talks
Photo: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán arrived in Moscow and met with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. He stated that Hungary is ready to provide a venue for negotiations on Ukraine, according to Russian media that published video footage of Orbán's meeting with Putin.
Orbán noted that Hungary is interested in peace, as Ukraine is its neighbor and the war allegedly affects Hungary as well.
"And we sincerely hope that the recently published initiative will lead to peace. Our meeting today gives me the opportunity to confirm that Hungary is ready to provide a venue for such negotiations. And it is ready to support the successful completion of this process," he said.
In response, Putin said that relations between Moscow and Budapest "continue to develop despite difficulties" and suggested that talks between Russia and the United States could end with a summit in the Hungarian capital.
"If, during negotiations with the United States, it comes to using Budapest as a venue for a summit, I would be pleased," the Russian dictator said.
Orbán's visit to Moscow
As a reminder, today, November 28, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán arrived in Moscow for a visit.
He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, Minister of Construction and Transport Janos Lazar, and national security adviser Marcel Biro.
Orbán's delegation will discuss energy issues with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin against the backdrop of the United States' decision to grant Hungary a one-year exemption from sanctions on Russian oil and gas.
When asked by journalists whether they would discuss peace efforts related to resolving Russia’s war against Ukraine, Orbán responded affirmatively, adding that they would hardly be able to avoid it.
Trump–Putin meeting
As a reminder, on October 16, US President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced, following a phone call, their intention to hold an in-person meeting within two weeks. Budapest was chosen as the potential summit location.
The preparations for the talks were to be coordinated by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. However, Trump soon canceled the meeting.
According to media reports, the reason was that Russia had not changed its maximalist demands regarding the conditions for ending the war in Ukraine. Trump publicly stated that he was "not going to waste his time."
Shortly afterward, the United States imposed new sanctions on Russia's largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil. At the same time, the US Treasury urged Moscow to immediately agree to a ceasefire.
Trump said he is ready for a new meeting with Putin, but only if a real agreement to end the war in Ukraine is concluded.
The Kremlin, in turn, confirmed that Putin is allegedly ready for talks, but no specific date for the summit has yet been set.
Meanwhile, Trump recently stated that a meeting with Putin, as well as with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will take place only when a peace agreement is ready.
