He added that he had briefed Orbán about Russia’s position in connection with the situation in eastern and south-eastern Ukraine, and also about events in the Middle East.

Putin expressed hope that resolving the problems in the Middle East would contribute to the easing of Europe’s migration crisis. “We are working together with our Hungarian partners in the aforementioned areas,” Putin said.

The Russian president blamed Kiev for the recent escalation in fighting in eastern Ukraine.

He argued that the Ukrainian government was looking to present itself as a victim of the flare-up in order to win financial support from the West. Putin also insisted that the country’s economic and social policies had failed.

The Ukrainian government, he added, was trying to use the conflict as a way to silence its opposition. He said another reason for the escalation of the conflict was that Kiev had no intention of adhering to the Minsk ceasefire agreement and was therefore searching for an excuse to pull out of it.

Putin said Russia expected that “rational-minded” forces in Ukraine and other countries would not allow any further escalation of the fighting, and would force the Ukrainian leaders to implement the Minsk agreement, he said.

Republished with permission of Hungary Matters, MTI’s daily newsletter.

MTI photo: Szigetváry Zsolt