Proper-wing nationalist makes journey with out official mandate from EU bloc, sparking outrage
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban meets Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, with out a mandate from the European Union.
“The #peace mission continues. Second cease: #Moscow,” Orban posted on X on Friday, his journey to the Russian capital coming days after a primary cease in kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Hungary took over the rotating EU presidency this month, and Orban has mentioned he needs to make use of it to advocate for an finish to combating in Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022.
However high EU overseas affairs official Josep Borrell mentioned Orban had not been given any mandate to go to Moscow, confiding the go to to the “framework of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia”.
The Hungarian chief “doesn’t symbolize the EU in any manner,” Borrell mentioned in a press release.
Orban, seen because the European chief closest to Putin, has commonly blocked and delayed efforts by the 27-member bloc to offer monetary and navy support to Ukraine and to impose sanctions on Russia.
Hungary additionally angered Ukraine by criticising the EU’s opening of formal membership talks with kyiv, though it ended up abstaining relatively than vetoing the transfer.
Borrell additionally mentioned that Putin “has been indicted by the Worldwide Prison Court docket and an arrest warrant has been issued for his function in reference to the pressured deportation of kids from Ukraine to Russia.”
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Friday that “appeasement is not going to cease” Putin. “Solely unity and dedication will pave the best way to a complete, truthful and lasting peace in Ukraine,” she mentioned in X.
Hungarian @PM_ViktorOrban Visiting Moscow:
Appeasement is not going to cease Putin.
Solely unity and dedication will pave the best way to a complete, simply and lasting peace in Ukraine.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 5, 2024
On Tuesday in kyiv, Orban urged Zelensky to work for a “time-limited” ceasefire with Russia to hurry up peace talks.
As an alternative, the Ukrainian chief referred to as on Orban to assist kyiv’s efforts to work for peace along with its worldwide companions.
With out mandate
Whereas Hungary will be capable to maintain the EU presidency for six months, European Council President Charles Michel mentioned on Thursday that it has “no mandate to interact with Russia on behalf of the EU.”
“The European Council is obvious: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the sufferer. One can’t discuss Ukraine with out Ukraine,” he wrote in X.
The rotating EU presidency has no mandate to interact in dialogue with Russia on behalf of the EU.
The European Council is obvious: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the sufferer. One can’t discuss Ukraine with out speaking about Ukraine.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) July 4, 2024
The EU has strongly opposed Russia’s struggle on Ukraine, imposing an unprecedented 14 rounds of sanctions on Russia over the invasion, which Orban has repeatedly sought to ease.
Orban insisted on Friday that peace can’t be achieved with out dialogue.
“If we sit in Brussels, we will be unable to get any nearer to peace. Motion have to be taken,” Orban instructed Hungarian state radio when requested about his go to to Ukraine on Tuesday.
His go to to Moscow can be the primary by an EU chief since Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in April 2022. Orban and Putin final met in October 2023 in Beijing, the place they mentioned power cooperation.