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Hungarian PM arrives in Moscow

Viktor Orban told the media that he would like to convince Ukraine and Russia to "embark on a long journey which may end in a ceasefire and peace talks"

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Sean Gallup/Getty Images

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban

© Sean Gallup/Getty Images

BUDAPEST, July 5. /TASS/. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has arrived in Moscow where he plans to discuss ways to settle the Ukrainian conflict with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Bertalan Havasi, spokesman for the prime minister’s office, said.

"Within the framework of his peacemaking mission, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has arrived in Moscow. The head of government will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin," the MTI news agency quoted Havasi as saying.

On Friday, Orban told Kossuth Radio that he would like to convince Ukraine and Russia to "embark on a long journey which may end in a ceasefire and peace talks."

On July 2, Orban visited the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, where he met with Vladimir Zelensky and suggested that Ukraine should announce an immediate ceasefire and negotiate with Russia. Following Orban’s trip, European media outlets assumed that he might make a visit to Moscow on July 5. However, European Council President Charles Michel said later that Hungary did not have an EU mandate to hold talks with Ukraine and Russia.

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