Orban Meets Putin: A Look at the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Controversial Meeting with the Russian President

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow tomorrow, according to a government source in Budapest. Orban, who began his rotating EU presidency on July 1, has already met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his tenure.

During his visit to Kiev, Orban presented Zelensky with a ceasefire proposal aimed at halting hostilities with Russia. However, Orban has been notably reluctant among European Union and NATO leaders to approve large Western arms and aid packages for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Putin has set conditions for ending the war, including Ukraine abandoning NATO ambitions and giving up regions claimed by Russia, as well as Crimea. Ukraine has rejected these demands as unreasonable and tantamount to capitulation.

Orban will be joined by Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto for the meeting with Putin. The dynamics between Orban, Putin, and Zelensky continue to be closely watched in the ongoing conflict.