"Peace without defense is an illusion": Costa responds to Orban's call for talks with Putin

Peace in Ukraine should not be just a ceasefire – it will only allow Russia to regain strength and come back again. It must be a just peace with security guarantees.

This was stated by President of the European Council Antonio Costa during his visit to Moldova. He was quoted by The Guardian.

Costa commented on Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's call for the EU to hold "direct talks" with Russia on a ceasefire in Ukraine.

"The European Union is a project of peace, and a project of peace means that security and defense are necessarily a priority because peace without defense is an illusion," Costa emphasized.

According to him, no one wants peace more than Ukrainians, and the European Union supports them in achieving this lasting peace.

"But peace is not just a ceasefire that gives Russia more time to become stronger again. We want a just and lasting peace," Costa emphasized.

According to Hungarian journalists, Orban sent a letter to the President of the European Council Antonio Costa demanding to immediately start direct negotiations with Russia on a ceasefire in Ukraine.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban demanded that the EU "directly negotiate with Russia" on a ceasefire in Ukraine. Otherwise, he threatens to block any decisions of the European Council on the Russian-Ukrainian war.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy explained why a ceasefire is impossible without security guarantees. He recalled how, after previous agreements with Russia on a truce, the occupiers sent snipers to the front for "live training" on the Armed Forces and civilians. The frontline was tens of times smaller back then, and now, with the enemy deploying a wider arsenal, a ceasefire deal would actually be a trap.

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