Orbán asks Zelensky to consider ceasefire with deadline

At a joint press conference with the Ukrainian president, Orbán thanked his host for the invitation, stressing that they had agreed on today’s discussions during their meeting in Brussels last Thursday.

Orbán said it was his first foreign trip since Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the European Union on Monday, adding: “Peace is important not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe.”

Orbán said he appreciated Zelensky’s initiatives aimed at creating peace, but added that these initiatives would take a long time to materialize.

“The paths of international diplomacy are slow and complicated… I propose to the president to consider the possibility of reversing the trend by accelerating peace negotiations through a rapid ceasefire,” Orbán said. “A ceasefire with a deadline could provide an opportunity to accelerate peace negotiations; I have evaluated the possible options for this scenario,” he added.

Orbán said he had clarified these issues with the Ukrainian president, adding that he was grateful for the discussions and honest answers. He added that he would prepare a report for the European Council “that could serve as a basis for the necessary European decisions.”

He wished Ukraine success and said Hungary was “at Ukraine’s disposal” during its EU presidency and would help wherever it could.

Orbán said he had come to kyiv to advance bilateral relations. He described the talks as constructive, adding that a meeting was long overdue given the many issues to be resolved, “on which we have negotiated and debated a lot in recent years.”

“We are trying to put the debates of the past behind us and focus on the period ahead,” he said.

Orbán said he wanted relations between Hungary and Ukraine to be much better, adding that Hungary wanted to sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Ukraine, like many of its other neighbours.

Hungary is also willing to participate in the modernization of the Ukrainian economy, Orbán said, adding that the process requires a regulated framework.

Regarding the situation of the Hungarian ethnic minority in Ukraine, Orbán said he saw a chance for progress.

He welcomed Zelensky’s proposal to establish a Ukrainian school in Hungary. Hungary will finance schools and create as many as necessary. If one is needed, then one, and if ten are needed, then ten,” he said.

Ukrainians have always been present in Hungary, where there is also an autonomous Ukrainian minority, he said. But now they are much more numerous with the influx of refugees, he added. These families need care, work, livelihoods and security, and children need proper schools and good teachers, he said, adding that it is important for Ukrainians in Hungary to feel at home.