Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Calls for Direct Talks with Russian President Putin to End Ukraine War

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Calls for Direct Talks with Russian President Putin to End Ukraine War

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that Hungary agrees with other European countries on the need to strengthen the continent's defense capabilities.

He stated, "My meetings in France confirmed that while we may disagree on the modalities of peace, we agree that the defense capabilities of European nations must be strengthened," Orban wrote on X (formerly Twitter) following his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The meeting was in preparation for Thursday's special European Council summit on European defense and Ukraine.

The summit comes at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump has suspended military aid to Ukraine, which many fear could lead to a broader military disengagement from Europe.

Orban further emphasized that efforts to reinforce defense should empower member states, not "Brussels bureaucrats."

"We will continue to agree that we do not want to create a superstate in Brussels, and we do not want to subordinate our independence and sovereignty to anyone, including Brussels," he added.

Orban also highlighted the "exceptionally close cooperation" between France and Hungary, both politically and economically, saying, "I expect France to continue to be a significant investor in Hungary."

Earlier, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen outlined the "ReArm Europe" plan, mobilizing up to €800 billion for defense and supporting Ukraine.

After his recent public spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, Orban sided with Trump.

Hungary's leadership has called for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.