Orban's secret letter reveals talks with Putin and Zelensky
Viktor Orban sent a confidential letter to Brussels informing them of talks with the presidents of Ukraine and Russia. The classified document was created on July 5. Among the outlets that obtained its contents is Radio Svoboda.
12:47 PM EDT, July 9, 2024
The Hungarian Prime Minister wrote that Putin is convinced of Russia's victory in the war with Ukraine. Viktor Orban also warned of possible dramatic events on the front.
Radio Svoboda, which revealed the document's contents, emphasizes that Orban only briefly mentioned Volodymyr Zelensky's position but described Vladimir Putin's viewpoint in detail. According to Orban, Kyiv and Moscow are ready to negotiate, but only if delegations from both warring states sit at the table.
The investigative portal Sistema also holds a copy of the letter. The media claims to have confirmed its authenticity from several different sources.
First Ukraine, then Russia, China, and the USA
Viktor Orban visited Russia and Ukraine in early July. On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, he made his first visit to Kyiv since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Orban discussed a possible ceasefire and the start of peace talks with Zelensky.
On Friday, July 5, the Hungarian Prime Minister unexpectedly appeared in Russia. Many European politicians, including the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticized Orban's visit to Moscow, stating that the Hungarian Prime Minister had not coordinated his initiative with Kyiv.
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on July 5 that Ukraine and Russia's stances on the full-scale invasion and prospects for peace are "very far apart."
On Monday, Orban made another visit. This time, he met with China's leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Orban claims he is carrying out a "peace mission," which he announced after Hungary assumed the six-month presidency of the EU Council on July 1.
After his visit to Beijing, Orban traveled to Washington, D.C. In the US capital, he participated in the NATO summit, which took place from July 9 to 11.
