PM Viktor Orbán kept his distance during talks with Zelenskiy

The European Council met in Brussels on Thursday. The meeting was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Mr Zelenskiy made a speech in the European Parliament, where he was greeted by cheers and standing ovations from MEPs. But the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán did not applaud, writes 444.hu. In addition, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer did not applaud either, index.hu reports.

Zelenskiy said that Ukraine can only defend its independence with the support of the EU. According to the Ukrainian president, lasting peace in Europe will only be possible if Ukraine wins the war, rtl.hu reports.

After the Brussels summit, Balázs Orbán, the Prime Minister’s Political Director, spoke to Hungarian journalists. He said that Hungary was providing the largest humanitarian aid in modern history to Ukraine, which was under attack. Hungary also supports Kyiv’s EU integration efforts, but there is a condition that EU requirements must be met, including the protection of minority rights.

As Ukrainian President Zelensky walks up for the family photo with EU leaders in Brussels, they all seem to clap, apart from one: Hungary’s Viktor Orban. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/H2W6yotNzd

— Jack Parrock (@jackeparrock) February 9, 2023

Orbán earlier said in a Twitter post that Hungary continued to provide humanitarian and financial support to Ukraine, Bertalan Havasi said. “We support an immediate ceasefire to prevent the further loss of human lives. Hungary belongs to the peace camp!” Orbán added in his tweet.

The Hungarian prime minister was standing just behind Zelenskiy in the group photo.

Photo: MTI/Miniszterelnöki Sajtóiroda/Fischer Zoltán

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Source: index.hu, 444.hu, rtl.hu