Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called on the EU to start direct talks with Russia on a ceasefire in Ukraine and to abandon plans for a joint declaration at an emergency EU summit next week, saying that differences in the bloc "cannot be overcome", Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
Under President Donald Trump, the United States has begun talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine, but without the participation of Kiev or Brussels. Trump also hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, and the conversation between the two leaders quickly escalated into a heated argument.
Orbán today sent a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa, stating that he is "convinced that the EU, following the example of the US, should start direct talks with Russia on a ceasefire and sustainable peace in Ukraine".
According to him, the European Union has "strategic differences in the approach to Ukraine that cannot be overcome". The Hungarian leader said this approach was incompatible with the draft conclusions of next Thursday's EU summit, which will focus on further support for Ukraine, European security guarantees and ways to meet European defence needs.
"That is why I propose not to try to adopt written conclusions on Ukraine," Orbán wrote, hinting at the fact that decisions at EU summits must be taken unanimously.
After Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, Orbán became a fierce critic of EU sanctions against Moscow and Brussels' financial and military support for Ukraine.
The latest version of the draft statement for the summit says that EU member states reaffirm their position that no negotiations on Ukraine can take place without Kiev's participation. The text also states that any peace agreement for Ukraine must contain "stable and reliable guarantees for its security".
The draft statement also calls for additional military assistance to Kiev.
Tomorrow, there will be a meeting of European leaders in London, and the topic of discussions will be the creation of a security backstop in the event of a peace agreement between Moscow and Kiev.
Turkey may send its military to Ukraine. But Ankara will not participate in any peacekeeping mission unless it participates in all consultations and preparations for its formation, Bloomberg reported, quoted by BTA.
Anonymous sources said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed the issue with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during separate meetings in Ankara earlier this month.
Bloomberg believes that US President Donald Trump is working on a plan to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Trump has previously said he would support the participation of European allies in peacekeeping forces and security guarantees for Ukraine, although he ruled out direct U.S. involvement.
That makes Turkey's offer to help monitor a potential ceasefire crucial to easing the burden on European allies, including the United Kingdom and France, who are developing plans for a European-led peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
The sources stressed that Turkey would not participate in any peacekeeping mission unless it was involved in all consultations and preparations for its formation.
Both France and the United Kingdom have already said they are ready to deploy troops to Ukraine as part of a security guarantee package aimed at securing any peace settlement, provided the United States supports and backs this initiative.
Turkey's role in the Ukraine-Russia talks
Turkey is actively involved in the talks on prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia from the very beginning.
On February 17, Zelensky visited Turkey again. In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar spoke about the evolution of Turkey's role in mediating between Ukraine and Russia.
Yesterday, February 28, it became known that Turkish companies will help in the reconstruction of Ukraine.