Balazs Orban, the Political Director of Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, stated that Hungary is making efforts to convince European Union member states to resume diplomatic dialogue with Moscow.

"Our position has remained the same for many years: there can be no military solution on the battlefield. We must return to diplomacy. We are trying to convince our allies of this in Brussels and elsewhere," Orban said in an interview for the Austrian newspaper Exxpress.

Simultaneously, he observed that despite Russia initiating its special military operation in Ukraine, the Western nations persist in exacerbating the war.

"We do not consider this a good idea, because this path will either lead to the collapse of the Ukrainian army or to an escalation that will lead to a third world war. In short, the Hungarian and Russian positions differ for obvious reasons. But we also believe that the West bears responsibility," Orban said.

According to him, a lasting agreement to alleviate tensions will eventually be reached among the United States, the EU, and Russia.

Putin: US 'needs to stop supplying weapons'

On Thursday, American journalist Tucker Carlson aired his interview with Russian President Vladimir Putin, marking the first occasion of a Western journalist conducting such an interview since the launch of the special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022.

Vladimir Putin conveyed to Carlson that Washington should acknowledge Moscow's interests and work to convince Ukraine to engage in negotiations. Additionally, the Russian President expressed optimism about reaching an agreement to secure the release of US reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been detained in Russia since last March.
 
The Russian President emphasized the need to safeguard Russian speakers in Ukraine and prevent the nation from becoming a threat to Russia by joining NATO. He also brought up various narratives concerning the Kiev government, stressing the presence of neo-Nazis.

Putin highlighted Zelensky's rejection of engaging in talks with the Kremlin. He asserted that it is the responsibility of Washington to cease the supply of weapons to Ukraine and persuade Kiev, which he referred to as a US "satellite" to participate in negotiations.

“We have never refused negotiations,” Putin said. “You should tell the current Ukrainian leadership to stop and come to a negotiating table.”

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