A cease-fire and peace talks are necessary to resolve the war in Ukraine, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told Public Radio.

The policy of sanctions is another step toward war. Anyone who intervenes in the conflict [by applying sanctions] is also taking a position that is a step toward one of the opposing sides; in other words, toward war, he said.

If Europe sees itself as part of the war, he said, it will be drawn into it, and the danger to Hungary will increase.

Hungary speaks the language of peace, he said, but no one else follows that line.

Hungary has never supported the sanctions policy and will not support it in the future, he said, adding that Hungary cannot afford to use its veto power at every stage.