Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Secret Visit to Kyiv Raises Eyebrows as He Discusses Peace with Volodymyr Zelensky

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made a surprise visit to Kyiv today, his first trip to Ukraine since 2012. During his visit, he is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the possibility of peace and current issues related to bilateral relations. However, no agreements are set to be signed during the meeting between the two leaders.

In an interview with Hungarian Index before his visit, Orban stated that he was taking “the first steps towards peace” in Kyiv. Reports suggest that the visit is secret and there are no agreements set to be signed during the meeting between Orban and Zelensky. The Hungarian government’s stance on the war in Ukraine differs significantly from that of most EU and NATO members, as Budapest calls for peace negotiations without preconditions, a stance that is unacceptable to Kyiv. Furthermore, the Hungarian government has close ties with the Kremlin and opposes supplying arms to Ukraine and frequently criticizes the Ukrainian authorities.

Orban became the second European leader to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin during the two-year long war in 2023 and was the only EU leader to congratulate Putin on his election victory in March 2024. The visit of the Hungarian Prime Minister to Kyiv has raised eyebrows due to Hungary’s unique position on the conflict in Ukraine.

The complex dynamics at play in this region are further highlighted by this visit, as well as by different perspectives among European leaders on peace and conflict resolution.