Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is seeking to redirect Western attention to possible peace talks, despite recent statements from Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, in order to undermine European support for Ukraine.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reviewed his visits to Kyiv and Moscow, as well as an article in Newsweek on July 5 in which he accused NATO of allegedly choosing conflict over peace.
Orban's calls for peace talks: ISW analysis
According to them, he continues to position himself as a potential mediator to end the war in Ukraine, despite the fact that Putin rejects mediation or serious negotiations.
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— Orbán's efforts to push ahead with negotiations are likely part of his ongoing effort to redirect Europe's attention to peace talks and away from discussions about military support for Ukraine, — the report says.
ISW notes that Europe's shift in focus away from military aid helps achieve this broader goal now that Hungary holds the EU Council Presidency.
— Orbán and others' calls for negotiations and the Ukrainian peace formula — these are different efforts with different goals, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has demonstrated that he is not interested in any agreements other than the surrender of Ukraine, — analysts say.
They believe that Ukraine's ability to continue its own peace process depends on its ability to liberate operationally important territory, while at the same time, the success of a counteroffensive in support of this goal is impossible without Western military support in the short to medium term.
The White House believes that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Moscow, during which he met with Kremlin dictator Vladimir Putin, will neither advance the cause of peace nor support the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine.
They noted that Russia can end this war today.
