Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has conveyed to EU authorities his belief that it is essential for the European Union to spearhead efforts in coordinating talks between Moscow and Kiev. According to documents obtained by Spanish newspaper El Pais, Orban shared details of his discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressing optimism for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine to commence by the conclusion of 2024.

Orban's diplomatic cables to European Council President Charles Michel and EU member state leaders outlined his interactions with Putin, Xi, and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, shedding light on the potential for a European-backed initiative to resolve the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Highlighting that US officials were preoccupied with their presidential elections, Orban argued that the timing was ripe for a European-led endeavor to settle the longstanding dispute, with subsequent support from the new US administration. Putin and Xi, as per Orban's accounts, anticipate the initiation of discussions by the end of the year, even though Xi did not provide a clear stance on the likelihood of this progression.