First visit since the start of the war: Orban arrives in Kiev for meeting with Zelenskyi
Hungary took over the EU Council Presidency on Monday in a regular rotation until the end of the year. Orban maintains close relations with Moscow despite the Russian military campaign. In October 2023, he attended the Silk Road Forum in Beijing with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, marking the first meeting between an EU state or government leader and Putin since the war began.
Orban has repeatedly delayed EU sanctions against Russia and financial aid for Kiev. Furthermore, he criticized the opening of EU membership talks with Ukraine.
The meeting between Orban and Zelenskyy, who met briefly at the inauguration of Argentine President Javier Milei in December and at the EU summit in Brussels last week, was reportedly prepared for months according to Ukrainian government sources.
Other EU state and government leaders and representatives of other Western allies of Ukraine regularly visit Kiev for solidarity visits.
- Despite Hungary's current EU Council Presidency, Viktor Orban continues to maintain close relations with Vladimir Putin, even amidst the Russian military campaign.
- Orban's relationship with Putin was further highlighted during their meeting at the Silk Road Forum in Beijing in October 2023.
- This meeting marked the first encounter between an EU state or government leader and Putin since the start of the war of aggression against Ukraine.
- Orban's position has been controversial within the EU, as he has repeatedly delayed EU sanctions against Russia and financial aid for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky.
- Orban's criticism of EU membership talks with Ukraine has also raised eyebrows within the EU and among its Western allies.
- Meanwhile, news agency MTI reported that the meeting between Orban and Selensky had been prepared for months, according to Ukrainian government sources.
- This meeting, which took place outside of the EU summit in Brussels last week, was significant given Orban's previous stance towards Ukraine and its EU aspirations.
- While Orban's visit to Kiev was notable, other EU state and government leaders have also made solidarity visits to the Ukrainian capital.
- NATO leaders have also repeatedly visited Kiev to show their support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
- Moscow has watched these developments closely, with the Kremlin likely to interpret Orban's visit as a sign of divided Western support for Ukraine.
