Orbán holds talks with Zelenskiy in first visit to Ukraine in a decade

Hungary's prime minister, an outspoken critic of western aid to Ukraine, has held talks with Volodomyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv, during a surprise visit by Europe's most pro-Russia leader to the Ukrainian capital.

- Pjotr Sauer

The trip by Viktor Orbán took place a day after Hungary took over the rotating EU presidency until the end of the year, to the dismay of many other European politicians given the country's frequent clashes with Brussels over domestic rule-of-law issues and foreign policy.

"The aim of the Hungarian presidency is to contribute to solving the challenges ahead of the European Union. That's why my first trip was to Kyiv," Orbán wrote on Facebook.

At a joint media briefing, Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian president, said yesterday's discussions between the two leaders in Kyiv could serve as a basis for a future agreement between Ukraine and Hungary.

Orbán, in turn, said he asked his Ukrainian counterpart to consider a quick ceasefire that could accelerate peace talks. Zelenskiy, who spoke before Orbán, did not respond to those comments.

Orbán's visit, his first to Ukraine in a decade, was a rare gesture in a relationship long marred by tensions.