Scholz: Orban does not represent the EU during his visit to Moscow
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) has cancelled his meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during his visit to Moscow, where he was supposed to represent the EU. The European Council, whose presidency Hungary took over on Monday, will be represented by the EU foreign policy chief, Scholz said in Berlin on Friday and added: "Therefore, Hungary's EU presidency is not what carries this visit, but rather the activity as Hungarian prime minister."
Orban had not informed him of his trip to Moscow prior to it, Scholz continued. Regarding the possible role of the visit in the EU's handling of the Ukraine war, Scholz said: "The European Union's stance on this issue is clear: We condemn the Russian aggression war, we support Ukraine financially and [...] with weapons, and this is being organized through the European Union."
Orban maintains close relations with Moscow despite the Ukraine war and goes against the EU line. Orban has repeatedly delayed EU sanctions against Russia and EU financial aid for Kiev. After Hungary took over the rotating EU presidency on Tuesday, Orban had already visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and urged him towards a time-limited ceasefire with Russia.
Despite cancelling his meeting with Orban during his visit to Moscow, representing the EU Council, Scholz stated that Hungary's EU presidency did not drive this visit. The EU foreign policy chief will represent the EU Council instead. Despite Orban's closer ties with Moscow, despite the ongoing Ukraine war, Orban had visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as the EU Council President of Hungary, advocating for a time-limited ceasefire with Russia.
