Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called on the European Union to begin direct talks with Russia on ending the conflict in Ukraine, a move that highlights growing divisions within the bloc over its approach to the war.

Hungary's prime minister has urged the European Union to start direct discussions with Russia on a ceasefire in Ukraine and drop plans for a joint declaration at an extraordinary EU summit next week,

The threat by the EU’s most pro-Russia leader to block any agreement comes after US President Donald Trump decided to open bilateral peace negotiations with the Kremlin, bypassing Kyiv and Europe, and Trump’s verbal assault on Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the White House on Friday.

Hungary's Viktor Orban urged the EU Saturday to open direct talks with Moscow to end the Ukraine war and vowed to oppose a bloc-wide accord on the conflict, according to a letter obtained by AFP. The demand by the Russia-friendly Hungarian prime minister – who has repeatedly stymied European Union action in support of Kyiv – comes the day after a

Shortly before a special EU summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has threatened to block possible new efforts to support Ukraine. In a letter to EU Council President António Costa, which has been made available to dpa,

In a document prepared ahead of the March 6 European Council meeting, Orban highlighted “strategic differences” between Hungary and other EU nations, which he said “cannot be bridged.” He argued the EU should follow the U.

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.