Orban to meet with Putin on July 5 - media

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will travel to Moscow on July 5 to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, days after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

A Hungarian government source told this to RFE/RL, Ukrinform reports.

Orban last visited Moscow in September 2022, when he paid his respects at the funeral of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.

Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto will also accompany Orban to the Kremlin, the government source said on July 4.

Read also: Zelensky on Orban's visit: This is clear signal of how important unity in Europe is

Szijjarto has visited Russia more than five times since Moscow invaded Ukraine more than two years ago.

Since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Orban has stood out among leaders from the European Union and NATO for his reluctance to sign onto massive Western weapons and aid packages for Ukraine.

During his visit to Kyiv on July 2, Orban suggested that Ukraine should agree to a cease-fire with Russia as part of an effort to begin negotiations to end the fighting.