Orbán urges European leaders to meet Putin, warns against sidelining in security decisions

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on Friday called on European leaders to convene a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that without direct engagement, the continent risks becoming a “minor player” in shaping its own security.

Speaking on Kossuth Radio, Orbán argued that both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz “should already have met with President Vladimir Putin” in an effort to push for a ceasefire in Ukraine, according to the Hungarian government’s official website.

“As soon as possible, preferably before the Russian-American summit, and if not, then after the Russian-American summit, a Russian-European summit must take place,” Orbán said. He stressed that Europe “cannot sit at home like a sulking child and pout at the Russian President.”

He underlined that disputes should be resolved “through negotiations,” insisting, as in previous years, on holding a Russian-European summit. “Otherwise, European countries will be minor players in handling security issues on our continent,” he warned. Orbán reiterated his support for recent US mediation efforts, saying the Trump-Putin meeting was “good news,” but added: “It should not be America alone. Europe must act as well.”