Costa responds to Orban's call for talks with Russia: We want just, lasting peace

He said this during a visit to Moldova, commenting on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's call for the EU to hold "direct talks" with Russia on a ceasefire in Ukraine, Ukrinform reports with reference to The Guardian.

"European Union is a project of peace, and the project of peace means that security and defense is necessarily a priority, because peace without defense is an illusion," Costa emphasized.

According to the European Council chief, no one wants peace more than Ukrainians, and, of course, the EU supports them in achieving this lasting peace.

"[But] peace is not just a ceasefire, which offers Russia more time to come again stronger. What we want is just and lasting peace,” Costa stressed.

According to Hungarian journalists, Orban sent a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa demanding that he immediately kick off direct negotiations with Russia on a ceasefire in Ukraine.

Together with another pro-Russian leader, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Orban also suggested that he would be ready to veto the European Council’s conclusions at the March 6 summit on plans for Ukraine.

Orban and Fico have repeatedly echoed Kremlin narratives and opposed support for Ukraine.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the European Council will discuss strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities at a special meeting on March 6, as well as strengthening Ukraine’s positions on the battlefield and during future peace talks.