Hungary offers to host Russia, Ukraine peace talks

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The Secretary of State of Hungary Zoltan Kovacs announced on Saturday that Hungary is ready to become a platform for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, tweeting that "both parties received the invitation and signaled that they are considering it. Peace is in Hungary's best interest."

On his part, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szyjjarto said he had contacted his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, and the director of the Ukrainian presidential administration Andrei Yermak.

In a Facebook video, Szyjjarto disclosed that "I suggested they have talks in Budapest. (It's) a safe place. They thanked me for the offer and said they would consider it."

The Hungarian Foreign Minister expressed hope that a deal could be reached within the next hours or days. 

Hungary, a member of the European Union and NATO, has witnessed a rapprochement in its relations with Moscow in recent years under the government of Viktor Orban. Nevertheless, Orban on Thursday condemned the Russian military operation.

Earlier, Russia announced its willingness to hold a meeting with a Ukrainian delegation in Minsk but stipulated the Ukrainian army must lay down its arms before any negotiations. 

Lavrov said that Zelensky will be brought to the stage of negotiations after the Russian operation is completed, and as soon as the Ukrainian military lay down their arms.

For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin has made an appeal to Ukraine's troops, urging them to seize control and not allow "neo-Nazis and Banderovites" to exploit children, women, and the elderly as human shields.

Additionally, the Russian President told his Chinese counterpart earlier that Russia is ready to hold high-level negotiations with Ukraine.