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US briefed Hungary first in Europe on the US-Russian talks in Riyadh

The US and Russia agreed that they would continue the dialogue and discussed restoring political and economic ties.

Following talks with Louis Bono, the US Senior Bureau Official for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, Levente Magyar, a state secretary of the foreign ministry, said in Budapest on Wednesday that the US briefed Hungary first in Europe on the US-Russian talks in Riyadh.

Although no concrete commitments were made at the talks, "the fact that they took place at all is an enormous step forward," Magyar cited Bono as saying. The parties have agreed on a shared goal, peace in Ukraine, he said.

The US and Russia also agreed that they would continue the dialogue and discussed restoring political and economic ties, he added.

Bono also said that the Trump administration saw Hungary as an important international ally, "and counts on us especially in promoting dialogue between Washington and Brussels," Magyar said.

Bono and Magyar said strengthening European defence capabilities is in the interest of the US and Hungary too.

Magyar said he and Bono also discussed bilateral issues and agreed to maintain continuous dialogue.