Orban sets out Putin’s views on war in leaked letter to European Council

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban summed up his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in a letter to the EU, seen by Politico and published on July 9, reiterating the Kremlin’s stance on the war against Ukraine.

Orban sent the letter to European Council President Charles Michel on July 5, following his trips to Kyiv and Moscow, which the Hungarian prime minister described as a “peace mission.”

The EU distanced itself from Orban’s plans on the grounds that he did not represent the European bloc despite the Hungarian EU Council Presidency.

Orban told Michel that according to Putin, “time is not on Ukraine’s side, but on the side of the Russian armed forces,” without substantiating this claim, Politico writes.

Orban divided his letter into nine key points, claiming that the Kremlin estimates Ukrainian losses in this all-out war at 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers per month, without mentioning Russian casualties.

Moscow is keeping quiet about the losses, but Kiev estimates that by July they amounted to more than 550,000 soldiers killed or wounded.

Selenskyj rejects Orban and says “only strong alliances” can mediate between Russia and Ukraine

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on July 5, just days after meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

Leaked documents from the US Department of Defense suggest that Russia’s losses may be higher than previously thought. By June, there may have been between 462,000 and 728,000 soldiers killed, injured or captured.

President Volodymyr Zelensky put Ukrainian losses at 31,000 soldiers in February. The figures could not be independently verified.

Orban also said Putin was “ready to consider any ceasefire proposal” that did not entail what the Russian president called “the redeployment and reorganization of Ukrainian forces.”

The Hungarian prime minister said he told Putin that “many argue that it is in Europe’s interest to return as soon as possible to a period of economic growth based on lasting peace” and stressed the need for “direct dialogue”.

Presenting his proposals to the EU, Orban said a ceasefire and peace talks were possible, but warned that if the war did not end, the next two months could see “more dramatic losses and military developments on the fronts than ever before.”

Orban called on Europe to take a leading role in negotiations for a peace agreement as the US is increasingly distracted by the upcoming presidential election.

Hungary remained the most pro-Kremlin country within the EU, repeatedly opposing Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the European bloc, obstructing sanctions against Russia and undermining Western aid efforts for Ukraine.

Since unsuccessful negotiations in early 2022, there have been no direct peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow.

While Ukraine demanded a complete withdrawal of Russian troops, Putin rejected this and instead demanded that Kyiv give up four partially occupied Ukrainian territories that Moscow illegally annexed in 2022.

After a meeting with Zelensky and Putin, Orban publicly acknowledged that the two countries’ views on the prospects for peace were “very far apart.”

The prime minister’s trip to Moscow sparked outrage in the EU. His “mission” is due to be discussed by European diplomats in Brussels on July 10, Politico reported.