Zelenskyy explains why Hungary cannot be mediator between Ukraine and Russia
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Mediators in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia could be the USA, China, or the European Union, but not Hungary, as this country has no real influence over Vladimir Putin, states Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a joint press conference with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.
"As for Orbán (Prime Minister of Hungary - ed.), he was in Kyiv, then flew to Moscow. I didn't know he was flying to Moscow. This is his independent choice. Can he be a mediator? There is no mediation between Russia and Ukraine," Zelenskyy said.
He emphasized that only strong allies can be mediators.
"The whole world can force Russia to stop this war. It's not about mediation. It's about capabilities. You need to have an economy that influences Russia, and Putin depends on it. Or you have a very powerful army that Putin fears, which is stronger than the Russian one. Are there many such countries in the world? Not many. I think the USA is such a country, China and the EU. Not just one country, but the entire European Union. This can truly be a mediating mission," the president noted.
Zelenskyy also added that when Putin meets with leaders of a particular state, it does not mean that he wants to end the war in Ukraine.
"And even if he meets with a representative of a particular state, it does not mean that he wants to end the war. He wants to show some steps, but behind this demonstration, there is always a bloody demonstration, as it happened this morning in Ukraine," he emphasized.
Orbán's 'peace initiatives'
On July 2, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Kyiv and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During the talks, he proposed considering the possibility of a unilateral ceasefire to initiate negotiations with Russia.
Then, on July 5, Orbán traveled to Moscow, where he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately responded to Orbán's meeting with Putin and emphasized that the principle of "no agreements about Ukraine without Ukraine" remains unwavering.
