Orban challenges EU stance on Ukraine, calls for talks with Russia
After the dispute in the White House, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban appealed to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, for Europe to initiate peace negotiations with Russia, following the example of the United States. He also announced a blockade of the EU summit conclusions on Ukraine.
The European Council summit dedicated to Europe's security and the conflict in Ukraine is scheduled for 6 March.
In a letter to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban asserted that the draft conclusions indicate strategic differences in our approach to Ukraine that a draft or discussions cannot resolve.
Orban expressed his belief that the European Union should follow the United States' lead and initiate direct negotiations with Russia to achieve a ceasefire and peace in Ukraine. However, he noted that this perspective was not included in the summit's conclusions.
Orban suggested that the European Council's extraordinary meeting should avoid adopting written conclusions on Ukraine. Instead, he proposed restricting them to reaffirming and supporting UN Security Council Resolution No. 2774 (2025), adopted on February 24, 2025. He emphasised that this resolution marks a new phase in the conflict, making all previous European Council agreements obsolete.
The Hungarian prime minister contends that adopting a written conclusion on Ukraine would give the impression of a divided European Union.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also criticized the summit's conclusions, arguing that it should include a call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
The White House dispute
Orban and Fico are two politicians who have consistently critiqued support for Ukraine from the outset of the conflict. Meanwhile, they avoid blaming Russia for initiating the invasion.
Orban's letter and Fico's statement appeared a day after Donald Trump's discussions with Volodymyr Zelensky. The leaders were expected to sign a deal concerning Ukrainian minerals. However, the meeting ended in disagreement. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance repeatedly demanded that Zelensky express gratitude for their assistance. They also criticised his negotiation tactics, accusing him of having no "cards." In response, the President of Ukraine accused them of failing to comprehend his country's position. Ultimately, the deal was not signed, and Zelensky, along with the Ukrainian delegation, was asked to leave the White House.
