Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, defended his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, asserting that the war in Ukraine will not end without intervention.

Orban’s visit to Moscow, characterized as a “peace mission,” occurred just ahead of a NATO summit focused on providing military assistance to Ukraine. However, Orban faced criticism for not consulting with the European Union prior to his talks.

Read more: Putin And Xi Praise The Enduring Stability Of The China-Russia Partnership At The SCO Meeting

He argued that achieving peace requires more than discussions from Brussels, emphasizing the need for proactive efforts rather than passive waiting for the conflict to resolve itself.

Following their meeting in the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin described the talks as productive and accused Ukraine of being unwilling to end the war. Last month, Russia proposed ending the conflict if Ukraine abandons NATO aspirations and cedes control of four disputed provinces, terms swiftly rejected by Kyiv.

Ukraine advocates for its 10-point peace plan, which includes the complete withdrawal of Russian forces from internationally recognized Ukrainian territory, as the solution to ending the conflict.

During Hungary’s initial five days of its EU presidency, Orban also visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, although Kyiv was reportedly unaware of his plans to visit Moscow.

An anonymous EU diplomat noted that Orban’s Moscow visit has exacerbated doubts within the bloc about Hungary’s presidency, suggesting it prioritizes Budapest’s interests.