Ukraine's Zelenskyy gets personal with self-appointed 'peace' negotiator Orban

• 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.
• Orban, a Putin ally, has attempted to conduct shadow peace talks during recent visits to Moscow and Kyiv.
• "If someone in Europe tries to resolve issues behind others' backs ... then why should we consider such a person?" Zelenskyy said.

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."

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