Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban refused to sign the EU’s joint statement backing Ukraine on Aug. 12, just days before the planned Trump–Putin summit in Alaska.

Axar.az, citing Kyiv Independent, reports that the statement, endorsed by 26 EU members, reaffirmed that borders must not be changed by force and that peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Kyiv’s input.

Trump said he had consulted Orban ahead of his meeting with Putin, calling him “a very smart man.”

Orban reportedly expressed doubts about Ukraine’s ability to defeat Russia, describing it as a “strong country” that “wins through war.”

The EU pledged continued support for Ukraine’s EU membership and additional security guarantees, stressing that negotiations require a ceasefire or a major reduction in hostilities. Orban has repeatedly opposed EU measures supporting Ukraine and maintained close ties with Moscow.