Ukraine-Russia war latest: Viktor Orban arrives in Kyiv as British medic Peter Fouche killed ‘in combat’
British aid worker Peter Fouche died after getting badly injured ‘in the battlefield’ against Russian forces last week
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Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, one of only two European leaders to have met with Vladimir Putin since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, has arrived in Kyiv for crunch talks with Volodymyr Zelensky.
The Hungarian leader, whose country has just assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union for the next six months, has consistently opposed the bloc’s military support for Ukraine, as well as its accession to the EU.
In a message on Facebook, Mr Orban wrote that the aim of the Hungarian presidency of the EU “is to contribute to the solution of the challenges facing the European Union. My first trip, therefore, led to Kyiv”.
It comes as a British charity founder who was providing military and humanitarian support in Ukraine has succumbed to his injuries while fighting in the war-hit nation, the organisation has said.
Peter Fouche died on Thursday “in the battlefield” after getting badly injured “in combat against Russian forces”, Halyna Zhuk, commercial director and co-founder of Project Konstantin, said in a video message.
His charity organisation had a team of independent volunteers that provided essential supplies such as drones and food to Ukrainian soldiers.
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Volodymyr Zelensky pushed his allies from the US to provide more Patriot air defence systems as he met the leaders from the US House of Representatives last night.
“I held a meeting with a bipartisan delegation from the US House of Representatives. We discussed key areas of further American assistance, including additional air defense systems. This is critically important, as the Patriot systems save lives and protect infrastructure,” he said.
He added: “I thank US president Joe Biden, both chambers and parties of Congress, and the entire American people for their unwavering leadership in supporting Ukraine.”
In April this year, the US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington will provide Ukraine additional Patriot missiles for its air defence systems as part of a massive $6bn additional aid package.
The missiles will be used to replenish previously supplied Patriot systems. The package also includes more munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems, or NASAMS, and additional gear to integrate Western air defense launchers, missiles and radars into Ukraine’s existing weaponry, much of which still dates back to the Soviet era.
Hungary’s Orban to meet Zelensky on trip to Ukraine – report
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban will make his first trip to Kyiv today to meet with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, the Financial Times reported.
This will be the Hungarian leader’s first visit to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion of its smaller neighbour in 2022.
Mr Orban, an outspoken critic of Western military aid to Ukraine, is visiting a day after Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union Council. He will meet with Mr Zelensky and other senior officials in Kyiv just days after the two spoke at an EU summit in Brussels, people familiar with the matter said, the report added.
The European leader is among the very few closest ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin among EU leaders and has frequently opposed many EU initiatives to support Ukraine in its defence against Moscow’s aggression since its February 2022 invasion.
Ukraine rejects Russian claims of capturing two villages
Ukraine has rejected Russian defence ministry claims that its forces had captured two villages in eastern Ukraine, and said the fighting continues to rage in the region.
The Russian ministry said its forces were in control of the settlement of Stepova Novoselivka in Kharkiv region, and of Novopokrovske in Donetsk region. Military statements from Ukraine’s Armed Forces denied the Russian assertion in parts.
The Ukrainian military earlier said it had repelled Russian attacks near two towns in Donetsk region – Novooleksandrivka and Spirne, a day after Russian forces claimed control of them. The evening report said fighting continued near both localities.
The evening report identified the Pokrovsk front as the theatre of the fiercest fighting. At least 44 Russian assaults had been repelled in the last 24 hours, with 14 clashes still going on.
The military said Russia maintained a military presence across the border from Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv and Sumy regions, adding that Moscow’s forces were increasing the density of minefields and conducting sabotage activities.
That area is under scrutiny for any sign that Russia plans to open a new front to pressure Ukraine‘s outnumbered defenders.
It was the second day in succession that Moscow has announced the capture of new localities. Russia has announced a string of incremental gains since capturing the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk region in February.
Donetsk and Kharkiv regions remain focal points along the 1,000km (600-mile) frontline in Ukraine’s east and south.
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