Orban's secretive diplomacy: Ukraine, Russia, China, and USA talks
Viktor Orban sent a confidential letter to Brussels informing about the talks with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. The classified document was created on July 5. Among the outlets that obtained its contents is Radio Svoboda.
The Hungarian Prime Minister wrote that Putin is convinced of Russia's victory in the war with Ukraine. Viktor Orban also warned of possible dramatic events on the front.
Radio Svoboda, which revealed the document's contents, emphasizes that Orban only briefly mentioned Volodymyr Zelensky's position but described Vladimir Putin's viewpoint in detail. According to Orban, Kyiv and Moscow are ready to negotiate, but only if delegations from both warring states sit at the table.
A copy of the letter is also held by the investigative portal "Sistema." The media claim to have confirmed its authenticity from several different sources.
Viktor Orban visited Russia and Ukraine in early July. On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, he made his first visit to Kyiv since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Orban discussed a possible ceasefire and the start of peace talks with Zelensky.
On Friday, July 5, the Hungarian Prime Minister unexpectedly appeared in Russia. Many European politicians, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk and the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized Orban's visit to Moscow, stating that the Hungarian Prime Minister had not coordinated his initiative with Kyiv.
– After the visits to Kyiv and Moscow, I understood that the positions of Russia and Ukraine are very far apart – Viktor Orban said on Friday.
On Monday, Orban made another visit. This time he met with China's leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Orban claims he is carrying out a "peace mission," which he announced after Hungary assumed the six-month presidency of the EU Council on July 1.
After the visit to Beijing, Orban travelled to Washington, D.C. In the US capital, he participated in the NATO summit, which took place from July 9-11.
