Russia's isolation proves unsuccessful, diplomacy is only way to settle crisis in Ukraine - Hungarian PM

BERLIN. Aug 19 (Interfax) - The participants in the consultations among European Union leaders on Tuesday admitted the failure of attempts to isolate Russia, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said.

"They confirmed that the isolation strategy has failed," Orban said on Facebook (owned by Meta Platforms Inc., designated an extremist organization and proscribed in Russia).

"They confirmed that there is no military solution to the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, only diplomatic efforts can yield a result," Orban said.

The parties agreed that Ukraine's possible EU membership would not give it security guarantees, he said. Tying security guarantees and the question of Ukraine joining the EU is an "unnecessary and dangerous step," Orban said.

He also hailed the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska and expressed support for a new meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Hungary's initiative - gathering a Europe-Russia summit as soon as possible - is on the agenda," Orban said.