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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán demanded that the EU begins “direct discussions with Russia on a ceasefire” in the war against Ukraine.
Orban also said he had opposed the efforts to find any consensus in Ukraine among the 27 Member States of the block. His request was submitted in a letter to the EU Council Chairman António Costa, who was sent on Saturday and was seen The Financial Times.
The threat of the most pro-Russian EU leader on blocking any agreement comes after US President Donald Trump decided to open bilateral peace negotiations with the Kremlin on Friday, bypass Kiev and Europe and Trump's verbal attack on the Ukrainian leader in the White House.
His letter comes after Brussels spread the draft conclusions for the upcoming EU leaders, which includes further military support for Ukraine and a rapid increase in expenditure to defense by European capitals. Zeletskyy was invited to participate in the summit, which takes place on Thursday.
“It is clear that there are strategic differences in our approach to Ukraine that cannot be bridged by preparation or communication,” wrote Orban Costa.
Orban's Ambassador in the EU scored similar points during the EU environments in Brussels on Friday, according to people informed at a private meeting.
The leaders are scheduled to meet in London at a hastily organized summit organized by British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, in an effort to formulate proposals for collective protection of Ukraine and increase defense spending, reducing the dependence of the continent on America.
Friday's public disagreement between Trump and Zelenskyy underlined How far the US has moved in recent weeks since the previous position of the lasting support of Ukraine against Russia – and the distance now between Washington and its European allies.
Orban's letter and the comments of his ambassador quoted the UN Security Council resolution that underwent this week by the support of the US and Russia, which did not involve the invasion of Ukraine in Moscow and demanded the “rapid end of the conflict”. European capitals were voted.
” [UN] The resolution signals a new phase in the history of the conflict and makes all previous agreed language irrelevant, ”Orban wrote in a letter Costa.
