Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Ukraine for the first time since Russia’s invasion began on 24 February 2022. He met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss peace in Europe and relations between Hungary and Ukraine. This visit happened on Tuesday and is notable because Orban has often opposed EU support for Ukraine and has maintained strong ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin, especially in economic matters. Hungary has typically backed Russia at the UN and resisted EU sanctions against Russia since Crimea’s annexation in 2014.
Orban’s visit also aligns with Hungary taking over the EU Council’s rotating presidency. While this position does not set the EU’s agenda, it allows Hungary to emphasize its own priorities. Orban started his presidency with the slogan “Make Europe Great Again,” similar to Donald Trump’s phrase, which has caused concern among European leaders.
Orban’s visit to Ukraine is well-timed with several important European diplomatic events in July. NATO’s 75th-anniversary meeting in Washington, DC, from July 9-11 will focus on supporting Ukraine and its potential NATO membership.
The European Political Community (EPC), gathering on July 18 in the UK, will also discuss key issues, likely including Ukraine. Orban’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of these meetings suggests a strategic effort to discuss matters privately before addressing them publicly. His visit to Kyiv marks a crucial moment for Hungarian-Ukrainian relations and Europe’s response to the Ukraine conflict.