Orban asks from Erdogan to back his Ukraine peace initiative

(MENAFN) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has appealed to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to support his initiative aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict peacefully. Their meeting, held on the sidelines of NATO’s summit in Washington, marked a pivotal moment in Orban’s ongoing diplomatic efforts.

In a video shared on his Facebook page on Wednesday, Orban called on Erdogan to join forces in advancing their shared mission for peace, emphasizing the potential for collaborative efforts to move closer towards resolving the Ukraine crisis. He acknowledged the significant divergence between the positions of Moscow and Kiev but highlighted Erdogan’s past success in mediating international disputes, citing a grain deal brokered in Ankara in 2022.

Orban’s diplomatic engagements come as Hungary assumes the rotating presidency of the European Council this month, underscoring his commitment to facilitating dialogue among the key stakeholders in the conflict. His approach has included meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev, Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

However, Orban’s unilateral diplomacy has met with skepticism from top European Union officials, who have distanced themselves from his actions. They have emphasized that any negotiations concerning Ukraine must involve direct participation from Ukrainian authorities, dismissing Orban’s engagements with Russia without Ukrainian involvement. Reports from Politico suggest that some European Union officials are contemplating repercussions for Hungary’s presidency due to Orban’s independent diplomatic maneuvers.

The developments underscore the complex dynamics surrounding efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, where divergent geopolitical interests and diplomatic approaches continue to shape international responses and engagements.

MENAFN11072024000045015687ID1108431693