Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made his first trip to Ukraine in more than a decade on Tuesday and urged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to consider a ceasefire as a way to end the war with Russia.
Mr Orban, who has a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin and is a critic of western military aid to Ukraine, held talks with Mr Zelenskyy in the capital Kyiv.
Mr Orban said he asked Mr Zelenskyy to think about a ceasefire before the follow-up international summit Kyiv hopes to hold later this year.
"A ceasefire connected to a deadline would give a chance to speed up peace talks," he said. "I explored this possibility with the President and I am grateful for his honest answers and negotiation."
Mr Zelenskyy, who spoke before Mr Orban, did not respond to those comments.
But his foreign policy adviser, Ihor Zhovkva, later said in televised remarks that it was not the first such proposal and that Mr Zelenskyy had responded to Mr Orban with his publicly known stance. "We say that Ukraine really wants peace for itself, this is logical ... for this, we have a tool – the peace summit," Mr Zhovkva said, referring to Kyiv's push to build a global coalition to support its vision of peace.
Weapons wanted by Ukraine - in pictures
After hosting dozens of world leaders at a summit in Switzerland last month to advance that blueprint, Kyiv has said it hopes to hold a second international summit this year to which a Russian representative could be invited.
Officials in Kyiv have often said Russia would use any let-up in fighting to regroup and strengthen itself for another, even larger attack on Ukraine.
In his statement to reporters, Mr Zelenskyy touted the possibility of a broad bilateral co-operation agreement between Ukraine and Hungary.
Ukraine-Russia conflict latest - in pictures
"The content of our dialogue today on all issues can become the basis for a bilateral document between our states, a document that will regulate all our mutual relations," he said.
Welcoming Mr Zelenskyy's comments, Mr Orban said Hungary would like to help in modernising Ukraine's economy.
Ties between the neighbours came under heavy strain after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with Budapest often opposing European Union efforts to support Kyiv.
Under Mr Orban, who upset western partners by holding talks with Mr Putin in October, Hungary has repeatedly accused Kyiv of curbing the rights of about 150,000 ethnic Hungarians living in the far west of Ukraine.
Ukraine has denied Budapest's assertion that it is restricting the rights of Hungarian speakers in its western reaches but says it is open to addressing any concerns.
Ukraine is keen to secure Hungary's backing as it relies heavily on financial and military support from the 27-member EU, where unanimity is needed for many decisions.
FIXTURES
Saturday, November 3
Japan v New Zealand
Wales v Scotland
England v South Africa
Ireland v Italy
Saturday, November 10
Italy v Georgia
Scotland v Fiji
England v New Zealand
Wales v Australia
Ireland v Argentina
France v South Africa
Saturday, November 17
Italy v Australia
Wales v Tonga
England v Japan
Scotland v South Africa
Ireland v New Zealand
Saturday, November 24
|Italy v New Zealand
Scotland v Argentina
England v Australia
Wales v South Africa
Ireland v United States
France v Fiji
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
MATCH INFO
Austria 2
Hinteregger (53'), Schopf (69')
Germany 1
Ozil (11')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Match info
Costa Rica 0
Serbia 1
Kolarov (56')
2017%20RESULTS%3A%20FRENCH%20VOTERS%20IN%20UK
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFirst%20round%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EEmmanuel%20Macron%3A%2051.1%25%3Cbr%3EFrancois%20Fillon%3A%2024.2%25%3Cbr%3EJean-Luc%20Melenchon%3A%2011.8%25%3Cbr%3EBenoit%20Hamon%3A%207.0%25%3Cbr%3EMarine%20Le%20Pen%3A%202.9%25%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESecond%20round%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EEmmanuel%20Macron%3A%2095.1%25%3Cbr%3EMarine%20Le%20Pen%3A%204.9%25%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
How to vote in the UAE
1) Download your ballot https://www.fvap.gov/
2) Take it to the US Embassy
3) Deadline is October 15
4) The embassy will ensure all ballots reach the US in time for the November 3 poll
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
The plans also call for stricter tests for colleges and universities offering places to foreign students and a reduction in the time graduates can remain in the UK after their studies from two years to 18 months.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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More on Quran memorisation:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The Year Earth Changed
Directed by:Tom Beard
Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough
Stars: 4
