Orban has repeatedly blocked or weakened European efforts to supply Ukraine with safety help all through the conflict, irritating Zelensky. He doesn’t allow donated Western weapons to be transferred to Ukraine over the 2 international locations’ shared border.
On Tuesday, Orban urged Ukraine ought to conform to a cease-fire with Russia as a part of an effort to start negotiations to finish the combating. Kyiv has outlined a 10-point peace plan that it has requested international locations to assist, nevertheless it has rejected agreeing to a cessation of hostilities whereas Russian troops are nonetheless occupying Ukraine as a result of it may simply give Moscow a possibility to rearm and renew its assaults geared toward seizing Ukrainian territory.
“I informed [Zelensky] that his initiatives require a variety of time because of worldwide diplomatic guidelines,” Orban stated Tuesday. He added that he requested Zelensky “to think about whether or not it may be attainable to do issues a bit otherwise — to cease the hearth after which negotiate with Russia, as a cease-fire would velocity up the tempo of those negotiations.”
Orban has additionally delayed Ukraine’s bid to hitch the 27-member bloc. In December, the Hungarian chief left the room throughout a gathering with E.U. counterparts to abstain from a vote to open Ukraine accession talks, permitting different leaders to vote unanimously in favor. In October, Orban met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of an occasion in China.
Budapest claims that Kyiv is failing to ensure the rights of its Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s western Zakarpattia area. Orban’s authorities has offered an inventory of 11 situations associated to the minority’s authorized safety earlier than it agrees to Ukraine’s E.U. membership.
Although taking up the rotating presidency of the European Union has restricted energy, some E.U. lawmakers have expressed concern that Hungary’s pro-Russian observe file makes it unfit for the function. Together with hindering support to Ukraine, Orban has additionally opposed E.U. sanctions on Russia.
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Zelensky wrote Monday on X that he wished Hungary “effectiveness in selling our shared European values, objectives and pursuits.”
“Whereas advancing on its path to the E.U., Ukraine is able to contribute to those efforts and strengthen our Europe,” Zelensky stated.
Brady reported from Berlin. Serhiy Morgunov in Kyiv contributed to this report.
