OXFORD, England — Ukraine's President Volodymr Zelenskyy on Thursday hit out at European leaders who "betray" Kyiv's interests in a thinly veiled attack against Hungarian President Viktor Orban and his shadow peace talks.
Zelenskyy told European leaders that Russia's President Vladimir Putin had so far failed to sow disunity within the region, but noted that EU member states — and one weak link in particular — could yet bow to temptation or blackmail.
"He [Putin] may try to approach you or go to some of your partners individually, trying to tempt or pressure you, to blackmail you so that one of you betrays the rest, weakening our unity," he said in opening remarks at the European Political Community summit at Blenheim Palace, England.
The Ukrainian leader said that it was down to individual leaders to decide how to act and "what legacy to leave."
But, in an apparent reference to Orban's recent meeting with Putin in Moscow, he noted that those who act against the continents' interests should not be considered part of group matters.
Persons:
Volodymr Zelenskyy, Viktor Orban, Zelenskyy, Vladimir Putin, —, Putin
Organizations:
OXFORD, Putin
Locations:
England, Blenheim, Moscow, Europe, Ukraine