Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has urged the European Union to engage in direct negotiations with Russia for a ceasefire in Ukraine, arguing that the bloc’s current approach is divided and ineffective. In a letter addressed to European Council President António Costa, Orbán expressed his opposition to any attempts at reaching a unified EU position on Ukraine.
Orbán’s letter comes ahead of a special European Council meeting on March 6, dedicated to European defense and Ukraine. He highlighted strategic differences among the EU’s 27 member states regarding Ukraine, which he believes cannot be resolved through discussions or formal documents.
“It has become obvious that there are strategic differences in our approach to Ukraine that cannot be overcome through project preparation or communication,” Orbán wrote, emphasizing that the EU should follow the U.S. in engaging directly with Russia to secure a ceasefire and a sustainable peace deal.
Instead of drafting a new EU stance, Orbán suggested that the bloc should limit its conclusions to reaffirming the recent UN Security Council Resolution 2774 (2025), adopted on February 24. This resolution calls for a rapid end to the conflict and, according to Orbán, marks a “new phase in the history of the conflict,” making previous European Council conclusions obsolete.
His call for direct negotiations with Russia aligns with Hungary’s consistent position on the war. Unlike other EU member states that continue to support Ukraine with military aid and sanctions against Russia, Orbán has repeatedly pushed for peace talks, the removal of sanctions, and the cessation of European financial and military assistance to Kyiv.
Brussels had recently released draft conclusions ahead of the European Council summit, proposing increased military aid to Ukraine and a significant rise in European defense spending. However, Orbán argues that forcing a consensus on Ukraine would only expose the EU’s internal divisions.
European leaders have repeatedly stressed the need for a just peace, with negotiations led by Ukraine and its allies. Despite this, Hungary remains a dissenting voice within the EU, advocating for a different path to ending the war.
