Kiev, 2 July 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has travelled to Ukraine for the first time since the start of the war launched by Russia in February 2022.

"Viktor Orbán arrived in Kiev this morning to discuss European peace with President Volodymyr Zelensky," Hungarian government spokesman Zoltán Kovács wrote on the social media platform X on Tuesday.

According to media reports, Orbán's convoy first travelled to the Hungarian embassy.

Relations between Kiev and Budapest are considered tense.

Hungary has just taken over the rotating six-month presidency of the European Union Council. In an interview shortly before his trip to Kiev, Orbán announced that he wanted to take steps towards peace.

In the past, Orbán has delayed aid for Ukraine and has repeatedly tried to prevent sanctions being opposed on the invading power Russia.

Hungary is still heavily dependent on Russian gas supplies, some of which flow through Ukraine despite the war. However, Kiev does not want to extend the contract, which expires at the end of the year.

Another point of contention is the rights of the Hungarian minority in Ukraine. Orbán has for years portrayed himself as their protector.

At a football match in late 2022, the 61-year-old also provoked people by wearing a scarf with the outline of Greater Hungary from 1920. At that time, Transcarpathia, which is now part of Ukraine, belonged to Hungary.

The last time Orbán was in Ukraine was in 2012, when Viktor Yanukovych, who later fled to Russia, was still in office as president - and Crimea had not yet been annexed by Russia.

Photo: MIA archive