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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.

"I want to stop here and be honest. Once and for all, you have to decide for yourself who you are with." Zelensky said.

Orban says cease-fire possible

Oran claims Putin was "positive" about both a cease-fire and peace talks. 

"The response was positive, but the Russian president said this had conditions. I cannot negotiate to meet those conditions—it should be him and the Ukrainian president agreeing on those," he said.

During the press conference, Orban was also asked about the images of atrocities in Bucha.

Orban claimed that he could not condemn Russia until a complete examination of the photos was conducted. "With all atrocities, we have to examine them, even though we live in an era of massive manipulation where we can't be sure if we can trust our own eyes," Hungary's PM said.

Orban has just been re-elected to a fourth term as prime minister. News of the election outcome broke on Sunday. On Monday Putin sent his congratulations and the Kremlin posted a photo of the two leaders.