Orban pays a surprise visit to Putin
Rumors about Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's Russia trip are causing unrest in the EU. Orban spoke cryptically about a possible journey to Vladimir Putin, and hours later, his plane landed in Moscow.
Hungary's right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban has arrived at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Orban's spokesperson Bertalan Havasi confirmed this. Orban himself had previously reacted cryptically about a possible trip.
"Because my country currently holds the EU Council Presidency, I still don't have a mandate to conduct negotiations on behalf of the community," Orban said in a radio interview. "All I do is travel to places where war reigns or the threat of war exists, which endangers the European Union and Hungary, or has negative effects on them, and ask questions." Orban fueled further speculation about his journey in the morning on X: "Peace cannot be made from a comfortable chair in Brussels."
Rumors of an impending similar journey had reached a boiling point on Thursday and caused unrest in the EU. European Council President Charles Michel emphasized that the rotating EU Council presidency has no mandate to conduct a dialogue with Russia in the name of the EU. Discussions about Ukraine should not take place without the involvement of the Ukrainian government.
Borrell expressed sharp criticism
EU Foreign Policy Chief Borrell also expressed sharp criticism. "The visit of Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Moscow takes place exclusively within the framework of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia," Borrell stated. The EU position regarding Russia's war against Ukraine reflects in numerous conclusions of the European Council and excludes official contacts between the EU and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Therefore, Orban does not represent the EU.
Hungary took over the EU Council Presidency on July 1. Shortly thereafter, Orban traveled to Kiev, where he met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and urged him to consider a ceasefire with Russia.
Among all EU government leaders, Orban is considered the one most inclined towards Putin. At the same time, he is critical of Western military aid for Ukraine. Most recently, he was in Russia in 2022. At that time, he did not meet Putin, but they encountered each other at other occasions in other countries.
- The EU is concerned about the potential impact of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's close ties with Russia, particularly given his recent cryptic comments about a trip to meet Vladimir Putin and his subsequent visit to Moscow.
- EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell has criticized Orban's trip to Moscow, stating that it does not represent the EU's position on Russia's attack on Ukraine and emphasizing that discussions about Ukraine should involve the Ukrainian government.
- Orban's trip to Moscow comes amid increasing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and his close relations with Putin have raised concerns within the EU about Hungary's commitment to supporting Ukraine and upholding EU sanctions against Russia.
