Viktor Orban, who has just taken over as the EU’s rotating president, arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday for an unannounced visit.
While in Kyiv, the Hungarian prime minister said a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine could speed up negotiations to end the war following a full-scale Russian invasion in 2022.
Mr Orban has been critical of Western support for Ukraine and is seen as the European leader closest to Russian President Vladimir Putin. This is his first visit to Ukraine in 12 years, although he has met with Putin several times during this period.
When he appeared together with Ukrainian President Zelensky, their body language was not enthusiastic, and they did not take questions from the media after issuing a statement.
Orban had previously delayed an agreement on a 50 billion euro ($54 billion; £42 billion) EU aid package aimed at supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
But for the next six months, his position as European Council president means he will play a major role as Europe’s figurehead. He came to Ukraine for discussions on his second day in office, saying it was necessary to resolve previous differences and focus on the future.
Zelensky said in a statement after the meeting that “it is very important that Europe maintains sufficient support for Ukraine… This is very important for cooperation between all European neighbors to become more meaningful and mutually beneficial.”
In his own statement, Orban stressed the need to work together but also said he raised the idea of a ceasefire to speed up negotiations with Russia.
“I have asked the president to consider … whether a quick ceasefire could be used to accelerate peace negotiations … and I thank him for his candid dialogue and answers.”
Mr Orban also said: “I am here for the first time because the issue of peace is important not only for Ukraine but for Europe as a whole. This war you are suffering from is profoundly affecting European security.”
President Zelensky has not responded publicly to the comments.
Later, the Ukrainian leader posted on X that Mr Orban’s visit to Ukraine “sends a clear signal to all of us about the importance of European solidarity and collective measures”.
“We discussed the path to a just, lasting and equitable peace.”
Many Ukrainians believe that a ceasefire will only solidify Russia’s control of the territory it seized from Ukraine, and if negotiations are to take place, they prefer to do so from a position of strength rather than a disadvantage.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said his country was willing to “cooperate with everyone to solve the problem.”
“This work is difficult and time-consuming, but it will ultimately produce tangible results,” he told the BBC.
“During the visit, President Zelensky had a frank but constructive discussion with Prime Minister Orban about how to achieve a just peace, not just a ceasefire or peace negotiations.”
The two leaders also discussed bilateral issues, including the issue of the 100,000 Hungarians living in Ukraine.
Mr Orban said the two countries were determined to put past differences behind them and he was convinced progress was being made on the rights of Hungarians.
He also wished Ukraine “all the best”.
A week before Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the EU Council, the EU started accession negotiations on Ukraine.
