Three years of reporting, funded by our readers — become a member now and help us prepare for 2025.
Goal: 1,000 new members for our birthday. Gift a membership to your friend and help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Become a member Gift membership
Skip to content
Edit post

Orban's rival arrives in Kyiv days after Russian attack

by Kateryna Denisova July 11, 2024 12:09 PM 2 min read
Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar in Kyiv on July 11, 2024. (Péter Magyar/Facebook)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Hungarian opposition leader Peter Magyar arrived in Kyiv on July 11 following a recent Russian attack on Ukraine.

Magyar's visit takes place days after Russian forces launched a missile strike on the capital on July 8, killing 34 and injuring over 120 others. One Russian missile directly struck the Okhmatdyt children's hospital.

The opposition leader said he was planning to visit the hospital and deliver humanitarian aid. Magyar's Tisza party raised about 15 million forints ($41,000), he noted.

After arrival, Magyar paid respects to fallen Ukrainian soldiers on Mykhailivska Square.

"(I'm) in Kyiv, at the memorial wall of tens of thousands of Ukrainian victims of the war," Magyar said on Facebook, sharing photos.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Kyiv for the first time since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion July 2.

During his visit, Orban put forward a ceasefire proposal, which was rejected by President Volodymyr Zelensky. Hungary's head of government arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin later the same week.

Orban reacted to the strike on July 9 but did not mention that the hospital was hit by Russia, citing "the brutality of the Russia-Ukraine war."

Under Orban's leadership, Budapest has remained the most Kremlin-friendly country within the EU. Orban has repeatedly obstructed aid for Ukraine and opposed Kyiv's NATO and EU accession.

In early June, Magyar said his party shares the position of the Hungarian government not to send the country's troops or weapons to Ukraine but supports Kyiv's right to self-defense.

Orban to meet Trump in Florida after NATO summit, Time reports
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban may travel to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida after the NATO summit in Washington, where allies affirmed Ukraine’s “irreversible” path toward membership as well as $43 billion in funding for next year.
Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. Thanks to our community we've been able to keep our reporting free and accessible to everyone. For our third birthday, we're looking for 1,000 new members to help fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Three years. Millions of readers. All thanks to 12,000 supporters.
It’s thanks to readers like you that we can celebrate another birthday this November. We’re looking for another 1,000 members to help fund our mission, keep our journalism accessible for all, and prepare for whatever 2025 might bring. Consider gifting a membership today or help us spread the word.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
Become a member Gift membership
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.