Viktor Orban speaks of a “mission for peace” in Ukraine. The Hungarian leader is the only one in the European Union to have remained close to Vladimir Putin since the start of the war in Ukraine.
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Another surprise and controversial visit. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the only European Union (EU) leader to have remained close to Vladimir Putin since the start of the war in Ukraine, travelled to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday 8 July.
Viktor Orban describes the trip as a “peace mission”after a tour in kyiv and Moscow. “China is a key power in creating conditions for peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine”wrote the Hungarian Prime Minister on X.
The visit to Moscow of Viktor Orban, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the EU for six months, had already sparked an outcry among the rest of the Union’s member countries, which have shown unwavering support for kyiv and have cut ties with Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. “Orban does not represent the EU”had ruled the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell on X, recalling that “The position of the European Commission (…) excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin”.
Beijing and Budapest are on the same wavelength on the Ukrainian issue, advocating a peaceful settlement of the conflict while remaining close to the Kremlin. Viktor Orban had called for a “ceasefire”an idea rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his European allies, who believe that Moscow would use it to strengthen itself. The Hungarian prime minister also stands out in the EU for his opposition to European economic and military assistance to kyiv. Earlier this year, he vetoed a €50 billion European package, which was finally validated after a delay.
