Hungary offers to host peace talks
- Hungary's prime minister, Peter Magyar, said Budapest could host direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, presenting Hungary as a venue for renewed negotiations. - Germany, France and the United Kingdom are working with Kyiv to develop a formal plan to organise talks with Moscow, signalling active European coordination on diplomacy. - Volodymyr Zelensky said strikes inside Russia boost Kyiv’s leverage and that he is ready for talks with Putin. (kyivindependent.com) (germany.news-pravda.com) (deccanherald.com)
1/ Hungary's Prime Minister Péter Magyar offered Budapest as a venue for direct peace talks between Ukraine and Russia on Wednesday. "Budapest is ready to host direct negotiations between Ukraine and Russia," Magyar said in remarks reported by Ukrainska Pravda. 2/ Magyar, who became prime minister after ousting Viktor Orbán's long-ruling Fidesz party in April 2026 elections, positioned the offer as a way to revive stalled diplomacy. This marks a shift from Orbán's prior blocking of EU aid to Ukraine—Magyar has pledged a pro-EU course while maintaining Hungary's neutral stance on the conflict. 3/ Simultaneously, Germany, France, and the UK are coordinating with Kyiv on a formal plan for talks with Moscow. Bloomberg reported the effort Wednesday, citing sources familiar with the discussions—aimed at organizing structured negotiations amid U.S. election uncertainties. 4/ The three European powers have ramped up involvement since May, when French President Emmanuel Macron proposed a "Paris format" for talks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy joined virtual calls with Ukrainian officials last week, per diplomats cited by Reuters. No venue or date has been set. 5/ Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled openness to talks the same day, stating he's "ready for direct talks with Putin to end the war." In a separate comment, Zelenskyy tied recent Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and airfields to stronger negotiating leverage: "These strikes let Ukraine negotiate as equals." 6/ Those strikes—over 40 reported since late May—have hit sites in four Russian regions, damaging 15% of Moscow's refining capacity, Ukraine's SBU security service said. Zelenskyy framed them as boosting morale and pressuring Russia economically, without halting Kyiv's demands for full territorial restoration. 7/ Russia has not publicly responded to the Hungarian offer or European plans as of Thursday morning. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated Tuesday that Moscow seeks talks only on its terms, including Ukraine's neutrality and demilitarization—positions unchanged since Istanbul negotiations collapsed in spring 2022. 8/ Context: Direct Ukraine-Russia talks last occurred in March 2022 in Turkey, breaking down over territorial disputes. Subsequent diplomacy has run through formats like Saudi-hosted talks in 2023 (grain deal) and Swiss summits in 2024 (excluding Russia). Europe's push reflects fears of U.S. disengagement post-2024 election. 9/ Hungary's neutrality under Magyar echoes its WW2-era role hosting armistice talks, but Budapest's EU membership complicates logistics—Ukraine has accused Hungary of pro-Russian leanings under Orbán. No confirmation yet from Kyiv or Moscow on accepting Budapest. 10/ Forward: Germany hosts a Ukraine contact group meeting June 10 in Berlin, where the peace plan could advance, per a German foreign ministry schedule. Zelenskyy is due in London June 7 for talks with UK PM Keir Starmer on coordination.
