Concern in the EU over rumors of Orban's visit to Moscow on Friday
Michel added, regarding the Russian aggression war against Ukraine, the European Council's stance is "clear": "Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No talks about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine."
The Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk addressed the rumors of an upcoming Russia visit by Orban as well. "The rumors about your visit to Moscow cannot be true, Minister-president Viktor Orban, or can they?", Tusk wrote.
Previously, the investigative portal "Vsquare" and the RFE/RL news group reported, citing anonymous sources, that it was expected that Orban would meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on a Friday. It would be the first Moscow visit by a European state or government head since Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer's (ÖVP) visit in April 2022. Orban had met Putin in October 2023 at a summit in Beijing.
An EU official in Brussels told the AFP news agency that numerous attempts to confirm the reports of Orban's trip had failed. Orban had not informed of a trip to Moscow. If Orban had asked, Michel "would have strongly advised against such a visit."
The Hungarian government did not want to comment on the reports to AFP on Thursday. However, Orban had announced on Monday that there would be "surprising news from surprising places."
Hungary took over the rotating EU presidency on Monday. The following day, Orban was the first time since the beginning of the Ukraine war in February 2022 to travel to Kiev and held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Orban urged Zelensky to seek a time-limited ceasefire with Russia to enable peace talks. Zelensky countered, his country wanted a "just peace," and called on Orban and Hungary's international partners to support Kiev.
Orban maintains close relations with Moscow despite the Ukraine war. Hungary has repeatedly delayed EU sanctions against Russia and financial aid for Kiev. Additionally, Orban criticized the EU's opening of accession talks with Ukraine.
After the Western-criticized re-election of Putin in March, Orban congratulated the Kremlin chief. In his message, he assured that "mutual respect" still prevailed between the two countries - "even in challenging geopolitical contexts."
- Despite Michel's clear stance against any talks without Ukraine's involvement, rumors of Viktor Orban's visit to Moscow persisted.
- Volodymyr Selensky, the Ukrainian president, urged Orban to seek a time-limited ceasefire with Russia, but insisted on a "just peace."
- Orban's position on Russia remains controversial within the EU, with Hungary repeatedly delaying EU sanctions against Russia and financial aid for Ukraine.
- During his visit to Kiev on Tuesday, Orban met with Selensky and discussed the ongoing conflict, but their positions on a ceasefire and a "just peace" differed.
- Viktor Orban's relationship with Russia is a source of concern for many in the EU, especially in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
- Donald Tusk, the former Polish prime minister and president of the European Council, addressed the rumors of Orban's visit to Moscow, questioning their accuracy.
- If Orban had indeed planned to visit Moscow, Michel "would have strongly advised against such a visit," according to an EU official in Brussels.
- Rumors of a visit to Moscow by Orban are not the first time that his relationship with Russia has raised eyebrows within the EU, especially given Hungary's position on sanctions against Russia.
- In the midst of these rumors and tensions, Hungary assumed the rotating EU presidency on Monday, and Orban traveled to Kiev for talks with Selensky the following day.
