BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Hungary's prime minister has urged the European Union to start direct discussions with Russia on a ceasefire in Ukraine and drop plans for a joint declaration at an extraordinary EU summit next week, saying differences in the bloc "cannot be bridged".

Leaders of Slovakia and Hungary on March 1 threatened to block EU statements during a key summit next week unless the bloc calls for an immediate ceasefire and launches talks with Russia. European Council President Antonio Costa called a meeting of EU leaders on March 6 to discuss defense spending,

Hungary's Viktor Orban urged the EU Saturday to open direct talks with Moscow to end the Ukraine war and vowed to oppose a bloc-wide accord on the conflict, according to a letter obtained by AFP. The demand by the Russia-friendly Hungarian prime minister – who has repeatedly stymied European Union action in support of Kyiv – comes the day after a

Shortly before a special EU summit, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has threatened to block possible new efforts to support Ukraine. In a letter to EU Council President António Costa, which has been made available to dpa,

In a document prepared ahead of the March 6 European Council meeting, Orban highlighted “strategic differences” between Hungary and other EU nations, which he said “cannot be bridged.” He argued the EU should follow the U.

After the dispute in the White House, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban appealed to the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, for Europe to initiate peace negotiations with Russia, following the example of the United States.