Hungary asks Putin for cease-fire

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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is asking Putin for a cease-fire with Ukraine. 

On Wednesday Orban claimed in a press conference he is urging the Russian president to come to Hungary for peace talks with Ukraine. He wants an immediate cease-fire. And he also wants the heads of state from France and Germany to be present at the talks.

Although Orban condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine he has refused to sanction Moscow. And continues to import gas and oil from Russia.

Along with Turkey, Hungary has always been perceived to be a close ally of Putin. And Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan held peace talks in Istanbul, Turkey at the end of March.

On March 25th Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky forcefully urged PM Orban to choose sides in the war between Ukraine and Russia.

In a speech to European Union leaders, Zelensky compared Ukraine to countries invaded by Hitler in World War II. 

And while acknowledging that some countries have had mutual interests with Russia for decades, he wants them to pick a side.