MOSCOW. July 5 (Interfax) - The number of countries in Europe capable of speaking to both sides to the Ukraine crisis has been reducing dramatically, and Hungary is likely to remain the only such country soon, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday.
"I am really thankful to you for agreeing to receive me even in these hard conditions. I should tell you that the number of countries that can speak to both sides to the conflict has been reducing rapidly. Perhaps Hungary will soon remain the only European country capable of speaking to all," Orban said.
The Hungarian prime minister, who arrived in Moscow on Friday for talks with the Russian president, had visited Kiev on July 2, where he negotiated with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to discuss a number of important issues with you. And I'd like also to learn your position regarding a number of issues important to Europe," Orban said.
He recalled having met with Putin even before the start of the Ukraine crisis.
"As you've mentioned, Hungary has taken over the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU since July 1. This is exactly what makes our meeting different from the previous one, which was before the war in February 2022," Orban said.