Orban is widely seen as Russia's closest ally in the European Union, and his government has broken ranks with his European partners by maintaining trade and opposing sanctions on Russia, refusing to allow the transit of weapons, and comparing Ukraine to Afghanistan.

Germany and other Ukrainian allies have lifted restrictions on Kyiv firing long-range missiles into Russia for the first time, the German chancellor said Monday, after days of Russia bombarding the capital and other regions with massive aerial attacks.

Friedrich Merz has plunged into diplomatic efforts to try to secure a ceasefire and keep Western support for Ukraine intact since becoming Germany’s leader nearly three weeks ago.

There are "no longer any range restrictions on weapons delivered to Ukraine," Germany's new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, said on Monday.

The advance may be linked to Moscow's attempts to create "buffer zones" along the border, Ukrainian regional authorities say.

Ukraine is fully prepared for a truce and a ceasefire. However, Russia is responding with missile attacks, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha says. The journalist mentioned that the American media,

China denied the Ukrainian claims that it is supplying Russia with weapons for its ongoing war. "China has never provided lethal weapons to any party in the conflict and strictly controls dual-use items," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday morning, state-run Global Times reported.