Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has called on the European Union to begin direct talks with Russia on ending the conflict in Ukraine, a move that highlights growing divisions within the bloc over its approach to the war.

In a letter to European Council President Antonio Costa ahead of Thursday's (March 6) EU summit, Orban urged the bloc to follow the example of the United States under President Donald Trump by engaging directly with Moscow.

"I am convinced that the European Union – following the example of the United States – should enter into direct discussions with Russia on a ceasefire and sustainable peace in Ukraine," Orban wrote in the letter, which was published on the Hungarian government's website.

The Hungarian premier argued that there are "strategic differences within the EU in the approach to Ukraine that cannot be bridged," making it highly unlikely that a consensus could be reached at the upcoming March 6 summit, where EU leaders are expected to approve a €20bn fund to purchase air defence equipment and missiles for Ukraine.

In his letter, Orban pointedly noted that setting up such a fund would require unanimous approval, which "was not possible without Hungary's support," which effectively means Budapest could veto the approval. 

Instead of attempting to draft written conclusions on Ukraine that would highlight these divisions, Orban suggested the summit should only issue "a brief statement approving the UN Security Council resolution of February 24" – a neutrally toned document that doesn't place responsibility for the conflict on either side.

Commenting on the letter, the prime minister's political adviser, Balazs Orban (namesake of the prime minister) said the Hungarian government "did not want to discuss this matter publicly." But following the letter's leak, he reiterated: "Hungary's position is that direct talks with Russia should begin immediately to cease fire and reach peace. We also expect the European Union's leaders to act as responsible politicians."

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto separately addressed concerns about energy security in a letter to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Szijjarto claimed the European Commission had violated guarantees made to Hungary regarding energy supplies, accusing Brussels of "representing the interests of an EU candidate over those of member states."

Security expert Andras Racz offered a critical assessment of Hungary's position, writing that the Orban government shows "unprecedented blindness" in its approach. "Whether the Orban government does this out of ideological considerations, sheer stupidity or because part of the leadership has now become Russian agents is irrelevant to the expected outcome," Racz wrote. "The expected outcome is currently that Hungary is speeding into a dead end."

Racz also noted that as European countries seek new security arrangements, problematic countries like Hungary and Slovakia are being left out of emerging cooperation frameworks.

Opposition leader Peter Magyar has warned against his country becoming "the first joint Russian-American colony" following the controversial meeting between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

"We can learn a lot from history, we can learn a lot from what happens when we negotiate with the Russians," Magyar told supporters at a rally in Gyula. "Hungary can only be a free country if we are strong... This is not what our ancestors in '48 and our freedom fighters in '56 fought for."

Other opposition figures joined in criticising the White House summit, calling Donald Trump's reaction "dishonest, inhumane and humiliating." Hungary must show solidarity with Ukraine alongside European allies, leftist parties said. 

The developments underscore growing tensions within the EU over its Ukraine policy, with Hungary continuing to position itself as the bloc's most outspoken critic of military support for Kyiv.