Orban's visit to Trump causes new irritations in the EU
Trump welcomed Orban at his private residence Mar-a-Lago in the US state of Florida. "The good news of the day: He will solve the problem," Orban wrote in a post on X and published a picture of the meeting.
Trump responded on his Truth Social platform: "Thank you Viktor. There must be peace, and it must be quick," Trump wrote there. Too many people have died in a war that should never have started.
Orban, whose country currently holds the rotating EU-Council Presidency for six months, had recently caused widespread criticism with a visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Orban later described his Moscow visit in the face of the war in Ukraine as a "peace mission." Orban also visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kiev. On Monday, he met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
Orban seemed isolated at the NATO Summit and spoke little to the press. His visit to Trump could further fuel the unease in the European Union (EU) about Orban. Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) spoke of "irritations" in the EU. For foreign policy, the EU foreign policy representative is responsible, she said on Thursday.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that it was Orban's own decision, which he had made sovereignly. "Through his visits, he has not bound us in any way, because he did not inform us beforehand and did not receive a mandate," Macron said.
Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (SPD) stated that he would not be presented with the travel plans of ministers of other countries. "It's important that everyone is clear that the Hungarian prime minister acts as such and not in the context of the EU Council Presidency," Scholz added.
"Viktor Orban has neither a mandate from the Alliance nor from the European Union to conduct any negotiations," Finnish President Alexander Stubb stated at the NATO Summit. Orban could only do this in his own name.
Orban is a supporter of Trump, he had already met the former president in early March at Mar-a-Lago. The Hungarian Council Presidency has placed Orban under the motto "Make Europe Great Again" (Make Europe Great Again!) - a reference to Trump's slogan "Make America Great Again."
Both Orban and Trump have reservations about the role of NATO countries in supporting Ukraine. Both oppose weapons deliveries to Kiev, as they see this as fueling the war.
- During his EU-Council Presidency, Victor Orban visited Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, adding to the irritations within the EU.
- Despite the criticism and isolation, Orban continued his visit to President Donald Trump in his private residence in Florida.
- Emmanuel Macron, the French President, stated that Orban's decisions were made sovereignly, neither binding France nor requiring any mandate.
- Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, expressed his displeasure about not being informed about Orban's travel plans, emphasizing that Orban's actions were individual and not on behalf of the EU Council Presidency.
- Finland's President Alexander Stubb made it clear at the NATO Summit that Orban did not hold a mandate from NATO or the EU to conduct any negotiations with Putin.
- Orban, who has been a supporter of Trump, had previously met him in March at Mar-a-Lago, echoing Trump's slogan, "Make Europe Great Again."
- Trump praised Orban, responding on his Truth Social platform, expressing hopes for rapid peace in the Ukraine conflict, and thanking Orban for his efforts.
- At the NATO Summit, both Orban and Trump expressed reservations towards the role of NATO countries in providing weapons to Ukraine, viewing it as fueling the ongoing conflict.
- In a recent visit to Kiev, Orban also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, amidst the escalating tensions with Russia and the war in Ukraine.
