Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban expressed his readiness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin again if this would help the Hungarian people in some way or usher in an end to the Ukraine conflict.

When asked about the possibility of meeting with Putin again, the Hungarian premier said in an interview with the Mandiner magazine that he was open to this, "should the interests of the Hungarian nation require [it]." He reiterated that outside opinion, including from Brussels, has no bearing on any potential meeting with the Russian leader. "The West is reluctant to meet with the Russian president because of its arrogance, but politics means reality and results," Orban argued.

"Barring any special obstacles, we should always meet and hold talks," he added, as he opined that the only way out of the Ukraine crisis is through negotiations.

Hungary has previously repeatedly stated its intention to keep channels of communication with Russia open in order to continue looking for ways to resolve the Ukraine crisis, among other things. Putin and Orban focused on this issue at their meeting in Beijing on the sidelines of the Belt and Road international forum on October 17.