Performing their song "Bird of Pray," Ukrainian band Ziferblat passed the Eurovision semi-finals on May 13, qualifying Ukraine for the grand final on May 17.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that a Russian delegation will be in Istanbul on May 15 for direct peace talks with Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov will likely represent Russia.
The move follows Ukraine's ratification of the minerals agreement, deepening U.S.-Ukraine economic ties and signaling expanded U.S. involvement in Ukraine's long-term recovery.
"Ukraine has initiated a coordinated campaign to vilify Hungary in order to undermine our initiative to hold a poll on (Kyiv's) EU membership," Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that further concessions from Ukraine during negotiations would be unreasonable if Russia continues to attack civilian targets.
U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg, will travel to Istanbul for possible peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, Reuters reported on May 13, citing three undisclosed sources.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said he will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, but said both leaders are ready to fly to Istanbul if Russian President Vladimir Putin chooses to attend the talks there.
President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban (R) attend the inauguration ceremony of Argentina's new President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires on Dec. 10, 2023. (Fernando Gens/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Ukraine is working to organize an official visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the first in 14 years, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna confirmed to Reuters on Jan. 25.
In late December 2023, Orban said he had received an invitation from President Volodymyr Zelensky to hold a bilateral meeting in the future and accepted it.
The two leaders were last seen talking on the sidelines of the inauguration of Argentina's President Javier Milei on Dec. 10 last year, which Ukraine’s president previously described as a "frank" conversation.
A separate meeting, already agreed upon, between foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba and his Hungarian counterpart Peter Szijjarto will be held on Jan. 29 in Uzhhorod in preparation for an upcoming high-level meeting between Zelensky and Orban in Ukraine, Stefanishyna said in Brussels, Radio Svoboda reported.
"The prime minister (of Hungary) last visited Ukraine in 2010, a country we barely remember anymore (compared to the Ukraine of today). It is important for us that he comes,” she noted.
According to Stefanishyna, it is “crucial for her to see Orban in Kyiv because he plays not an easy role in making historic decisions for Ukraine.”
Budapest blocked the EU’s endorsement of a financial assistance package for Ukraine consisting of 50 billion euros ($55 billion) during the European Council summit in December 2023. EU leaders are to reconvene on the issue on Feb. 1, with Brussels signaling that a deal might be reached even without Hungary's approval.
Hungary continues to undermine Western aid efforts and sanctions against Russia. Budapest has maintained warm relations with Moscow amid the all-out war, and Hungarian top officials have visited Russia repeatedly since February 2022. Orban met Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in October 2023 in Beijing, which was criticized by some EU leaders.
