Erdogan hosts Hungary's Orban for Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who is on a visit to Türkiye, at the Presidential Complex in Ankara.

The two leaders, who share a close personal relationship, were expected to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, developments in Gaza and Syria, and strengthen bilateral relations, according to a statement from Hungary, Caliber.Az reports, referencing Turkish news outlets.

Erdoğan was also set to meet with Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok in Ankara, and the three leaders were scheduled to attend a ceremony marking the conclusion of the Turkish-Hungarian Cultural Year.

Orbán, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, is pursuing a peace initiative for the Russia-Ukraine war. Both he and Erdoğan share a mutual connection with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and maintain cordial relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Türkiye has good relations with Ukraine, it opposes Western sanctions on Russia over the conflict.

Notably, on December 12, the Kremlin confirmed that Orbán had proposed a major prisoner swap and a Christmas ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war. Erdoğan has also been involved in peace efforts, playing a key role in brokering a deal for Ukrainian grain exports during the conflict, though a lasting peace agreement has yet to be achieved.

Türkiye and Hungary's ties date back to the Ottoman period, with a friendship treaty signed in 1923 marking the beginning of modern relations. Under Erdoğan's leadership, relations between the two countries have flourished, especially after the establishment of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in 2013.

Hungary remains one of Türkiye’s few strong supporters within the European Union regarding its bid for EU membership. The two countries also maintain strong ties through the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), of which Hungary has been an observer member since 2018.

By Khagan Isayev