Orban defends upcoming reported trip to Russia for peace, angers EU
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Media reports claim that Orban, who visited Kiev earlier this week and pushed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to consider an early ceasefire, may visit the Russian capital on Friday.
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Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks with the media as he arrives for an EU summit in Brussels, Thursday, June 27, 2024. (AP)
The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban has defended his efforts to promote peace after criticism from a top EU official on his reported plans to visit Russia.
Media reports have claimed that Orban, who visited Kiev earlier this week and pushed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky to consider an early ceasefire, may visit the Russian capital on Friday.
Hungary "has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU," according to European Council President Charles Michel, who denounced the reports in a post on X on Thursday.
“The European Council is clear: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine,” he added.
The EU rotating presidency has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) July 4, 2024
The European Council is clear: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine.
Orban denied the idea that he shouldn't fight for peace on Friday morning during his weekly interview with Radio Kossuth.
Read next: Hungary's Orban says EU wants war with Russia, dragging Europe with it
“What I do looks like negotiations in format, because we sit at tables and discuss issues, but we don’t negotiate,” he explained. “That’s why I don’t even need a mandate, because I don’t represent any party.”
'We can be good tools for peace'
Hungary expects larger powers to hold peace talks to end the conflict in Ukraine because it is aware of its relatively limited political clout, he continued.
However, he noted: “But we can be a good tool in the hands of God, we can be a good tool in the hands of people who want peace”.
Orban claimed that surveys indicating EU members' support for Kiev's sustained backing are not accurate representations of their views, as people worry about the conflict's economic toll on a daily basis because Ukraine is receiving funds from EU taxpayers.
During the conversation, Orban neither confirmed nor denied plans to visit Moscow. Donald Tusk, the prime minister of Poland and another pro-Kiev politician, had previously voiced his surprise that the Hungarian leader could travel.
“The rumours about your visit to Moscow cannot be true @PM_ViktorOrban, or can they?” he asked on X.
The rumours about your visit to Moscow cannot be true @PM_ViktorOrban, or can they?
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) July 4, 2024
Viktor #Orbán is visiting Putin as Hungarian Prime Minister. In foreign policy, the European Council is represented by Charles Michel.
— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) July 5, 2024
The EU's position is very clear: we condemn the Russian war of aggression. Ukraine can rely on our support.
Hungary has openly opposed sanctions on Russia but has generally sought to delay EU measures rather than block them outright. The Kremlin, responding to Orban's visit, expressed low expectations but acknowledged Orban as a "tough" politician who strongly defends Hungary's interests.
The timing of Orban's visit is notable, as Hungary has just taken over the EU's rotating presidency for the next six months, giving it significant influence over the bloc's agenda. Orban stated that he would report on his discussions with Zelensky to EU prime ministers to facilitate necessary European decisions.
