Viktor Orbán travelled to Kyiv for the first time since the start of the military conflict in Ukraine to discuss with Zelensky the “possibility of peace” and bilateral relations, a spokesman for the Hungarian PM has said.
Orbán has all along acted as a conciliator between the warring parties and favoured a diplomatic solution to the conflict, also taking a complimentary stance towards Russia and President Vladimir Putin. Notably, this is the first visit by a Hungarian leader since the start of the military conflict in February 2022.
The Hungarian prime minister did not visit Ukraine either under the rule of Volodymyr Zelensky or the previous president Petro Poroshenko. Orbán was last in Kyiv in 2012 to meet with Ukraine’s fifth president Viktor Yanukovych before the 2014 coup d’état.
His arrival right now could mark a fundamental shift in Hungary’s politics. He may be working out a peace deal with Ukraine and playing the role of a mediator in the conflict.
Orbán is also in favour of preserving and restoring the national rights of Hungarians in Transcarpathia. Earlier, the Hungarian leader said that Hungary will not support Ukraine’s position at any international forum until Kyiv returns the rights of Transcarpathian Hungarians.
The Hungarian prime minister pointed to the fact that Hungarians were banned from singing the national anthem and wearing national colours in schools.
After discussing this issue with Zelensky, the Hungarian prime minister announced his intention to sign “a global co-operation agreement with Ukraine, similar to the agreements we have with Hungary’s other neighbours.”
The day before, Hungary took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union. It will remain in this position for six months, after which the presidency will go to Poland.
