Putin meets Orban, expects to discuss prospects of Ukrainian settlement

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he expects to discuss prospects of the peace settlement in Ukraine at a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

Opening the meeting in Moscow, Putin said he wants to learn the EU position on the situation in Ukraine from Orban. Hungary took over the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from Belgium on July 1.

“I hope we will have the opportunity to exchange views on bilateral relations in this difficult situation. And, of course, to talk about the prospects of the largest European crisis, I mean in the Ukrainian direction," the Russian leader said.

Orban earlier said he arrived in Moscow with a “peace mission,” noting it was his “second stop” after the July 2 trip to Kyiv.

The EU has backed Ukraine in its conflict with Russia that began in February 2022.