On July 17, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called for a direct meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said that this is the only way to end the conflict in Ukraine.
In an interview on a YouTube channel called Ultrahang, Prime Minister Orban called President Trump a "people of peace" and expressed skepticism about the sincerity of Western governments as well as Kiev.
According to Prime Minister Orban, hopes for peace among European countries seem unlikely, as the conflict continues and military aid continues to pour heavily into Ukraine, despite warnings from Russia.
The Hungarian leader said that some countries should let the conflict last only for their own benefit. They want the conflict to continue, no matter what they say, Mr. Orban said.
"The conflict will not stop until the presidents of Russia and the US sit down to negotiate," Mr. Orban added.

He also expressed hope that such a meeting could lay the foundation for a larger deal that would not only solve the Ukrainian problem, but also global trade and arms control.
Budapest has long criticized Ukraine's efforts to supply weapons to Kiev and opposed its ambition to join the European Union (EU) and NATO, saying the moves would only prolong the conflict, at an increasingly expensive price for European economies and taxpayers.
Since returning to office in January, Trump has held several phone calls with Putin and repeatedly blamed both Moscow and Kiev for lack of progress.
In May, Ukraine agreed to resume direct talks with Russia under pressure from the US, but negotiations were stalled after two rounds because Kiev said the process was a waste of effort. Ukraine said it only participated to avoid showing disrespect for President Trump's diplomatic initiative.
Meanwhile, Moscow argued that it is still committed to achieving its core goals in Ukraine but prioritizes a diplomatic solution.