Viktor Orban spoke on the phone with Zelenskiy before the meeting with Xi Jinping

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a telephone conversation on Wednesday, Bertalan Havasi, the head of the Prime Minister’s press office, told the MTI agency, according to News.ro.

All the important elements of the relations between Hungary and Ukraine were reviewed. The main subject of the negotiations was the issue of war and peace, said Bertalan Havasi. Viktor Orbán confirmed that Hungary is ready to contribute to all initiatives and efforts leading to peace, the official added.

He also said that Viktor Orbán and Volodymyr Zelensky agreed that these bilateral consultations should continue.

Relations between Viktor Orban and Volodymyr Zelenskiy have not always been cordial, with Hungary opposed to supplying weaponry to the warring neighboring country, with which Budapest has disagreements over the rights of ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine. Budapest has often raised objections and procrastinated the European Union’s decision-making regarding Ukraine, avoiding for example to give its consent to the opening of EU accession negotiations with Kyiv.

However, the conversation between Orban and Zelenski comes before the visit that Chinese leader Xi Jinping is making to Hungary on Thursday. The subject of Ukraine would appear on the agenda of the discussions between Orban and Xi, given that China wants to be a promoter of peace and was invited to the summit for peace that Ukraine is organizing in June together with Switzerland.

Publisher: RK

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