Orban Visits Kyiv Amid EU Council Presidency

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's first visit to Ukraine in over a decade, coinciding with Hungary's presidency of the European Council, focused on advocating for a ceasefire with Russia to speed up peace negotiations. Despite Orban's call for an immediate truce, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his administration rejected the proposal, citing past negative experiences and concerns that it would allow Russia to regroup militarily. Zelensky emphasized the importance of continued military aid from the EU and reiterated his commitment to Ukraine's own peace plan, which includes full Russian withdrawal and reparations. Although Orban's visit aimed to improve bilateral relations, the fundamental differences in their approach to the conflict remained evident.