Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has made his first visit to Ukraine since the start of the conflict with Russia in 2022. The Hungarian government confirmed Orban’s arrival in Kyiv on Tuesday, where he is scheduled for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other senior officials.
Orban’s visit comes shortly after his discussions with Zelenskyy at a recent EU summit in Brussels. Bertalan Havasi, Orban’s press secretary, told the national news agency MTI that the Prime Minister is in Kyiv for a series of high-level discussions. According to sources cited by the Financial Times, these meetings are expected to address various aspects of the Ukraine crisis and Hungary’s stance within the EU.
As the only EU leader who has consistently maintained ties with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, Orban’s visit is seen as a significant development. Throughout the conflict, Orban has opposed numerous EU measures designed to bolster Ukraine’s military. In 2023, he assured Russian President Vladimir Putin that Hungary had never sought to oppose Russia.
Orban’s visit to Kyiv follows a period of strained relations within the EU regarding aid to Ukraine. Earlier in 2024, Orban’s veto delayed the extension of €50 billion in new EU aid to Ukraine, illustrating Hungary’s complex position in the conflict. The veto was eventually overcome after weeks of negotiation among EU leaders.
Despite Orban’s stance, the EU has recently shown a strong commitment to Ukraine by initiating membership talks, providing a significant political boost amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. Although these talks mark a step towards integration, Ukraine faces a challenging path before gaining full EU membership.
Orban’s visit to Kyiv is anticipated to be a key moment in the ongoing dialogue between Hungary and Ukraine, potentially affecting Hungary’s approach within the EU framework. As the conflict continues, the outcomes of Orban’s meetings with Ukrainian leadership will be closely monitored for their implications on both Hungary’s foreign policy and broader EU-Ukraine relations.
