Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Friday the ongoing talks between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin were initiated by Hungary. The offer to hold a meeting came only two days ago, Peskov said. Orban's trip to Moscow comes three days after the prime minister's talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on July 2.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijjarto, who traveled to Moscow with Orban, said it is "necessary to conclude a truce and start peace talks as soon as possible," adding that Hungary hopes today's meeting could help bring the warring sides to the negotiating table, Ednews reports.
Orban, a long-time proponent of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev, is the first leader of an EU country to meet with Putin since February 2022.
