STORY: Communication channels with Russia remain open to achieve peace: Hungarian PM
DATELINE: Oct. 27, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:01
LOCATION: Brussels
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of European Council
2. SOUNDBITE (English): VIKTOR ORBAN, Hungarian Prime Minister

STORYLINE:

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Thursday that he was in favor of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and that communication channels between Hungary and Russia remain open to achieve peace.
   
Orban was speaking to reporters before attending a meeting of European Union (EU) leaders in Brussels.

SOUNDBITE (English): VIKTOR ORBAN, Hungarian Prime Minister
"We have a very transparent and clear policy on that. We have a peace strategy. We would like to do everything in order to have peace. Therefore, we keep open all the communication lines to the Russians. Otherwise, there will be no chance for peace. This is a strategy, so we are proud of it. We are proud to do it. We are the only one who is speaking on behalf and in favor of the peace, which would be the interest of everybody in Europe."
   
EU leaders met in Brussels on Thursday in a planned two-day meeting, focusing on the conflicts between Israel and Hamas and between Russia and Ukraine. The EU's long-term budget, the economy, migration and external relations are also on the agenda.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Brussels.
(XHTV)