The Power Within: The Kyiv Independent’s first-ever magazine. Be among the first to get it.

pre-order now
Skip to content
Edit post

Zelensky: I spoke with Orban as frankly as possible

by Rachel Amran December 11, 2023 3:43 AM 1 min read
This audio is created with AI assistance

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement posted to Telegram that he spoke with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban 'as frankly as possible' in a sideline conversation between the two leaders during the inauguration ceremony for Argentina's newly elected president on Dec. 10.

Javier Milei is a far-right libertarian lawmaker who won Argentina's presidential election on Nov. 19 after a campaign in which he said he would seek to reduce ties to Russia and China, among other policy views that represented a break from the outgoing President Alberto Fernandez.

After the inauguration, a video surfaced online showing Zelensky and Orban engaging in a heated conversation inside the Argentine government building. Details of what the two men discussed are not known, however, President Zelensky released a statement on Telegram later that day.

“On the sidelines of the inauguration, I spoke with Hungarian Prime Minister Orban as frankly as possible. And it is clear that it [the conversation] was about our European affairs.”

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Hungary has repeatedly obstructed EU funds for Kyiv while opposing sanctions against Russia. Orban, who maintains close ties with the Kremlin, has refused to provide military aid to Ukraine and threatened to block Ukraine's accession to the EU unless leaders agree to review their entire strategy of support.

Ukraine war latest: Russian assaults continue along eastern front line, decrease in southeast
Key developments on Dec. 9-10: * Russian troops continue offensive operations along the eastern front line * Fewer Russian assault operations reported in the southeast * US senator accuses Republicans of ‘holding aid to Ukraine hostage’ * Scholz says Germany should be prepared to do more for Uk…

News Feed

5:15 PM

Alexander Vindman: Trump repeats past US mistakes with Russia.

Alexander Vindman served as the director of European affairs for the United States National Security Council in 2018-2020, during U.S. President Donald Trump's first administration. The Kyiv Independent's Kate Tsurkan sits down with Vindman to discuss how Washington has historically misjudged Russia, "succumbing to hopes and fears," and why there is no real prospect of peace between Ukraine and Russia now.
12:24 PM

Ukraine receives $400 million tranche from IMF.

The funds represent the latest tranche of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, which will provide Kyiv with $15.6 billion in budget support over four years. With the additional $400 million in funding, the program has now distributed $10.1 billion in financing to Ukraine.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.