Vladimir Putin welcomed the Hungarian Prime Minister’s visit to the Kremlin on Friday to discuss Ukraine, seeing Viktor Orban as the representative of the European Union (EU) despite denials from Brussels.
“I understand that this time you came not only as a long-standing partner, but also as the president of the Council” of the EU, Putin said.
“I expect you to tell me your position (on Ukraine) and that of the European partners,” he added, while the EU has already said that Mr. Orban does not have a European mandate.
Three days after his first trip to kyiv since the start of the Russian offensive in February 2022, the Hungarian nationalist leader went to Moscow “as part of his peace mission”, according to the Hungarian government.
“The number of countries that can talk to both sides of the war is decreasing. Hungary is gradually becoming the only country in Europe that can talk to everyone,” Orban told Putin.
Russian demand for surrender
The Russian president recalled that in June he had set out his conditions for peace in Ukraine: that Ukraine cede the four Ukrainian regions that Moscow claims to annex, in addition to Crimea, and renounce its alliance with the West. De facto a demand for capitulation.
Mr Orban, during his visit to kyiv, had judged that Ukraine should accept a ceasefire, a position dismissed by the West and the Ukrainians.
Ukraine is demanding a “just peace” that requires the withdrawal of Russian troops and respect for its territorial integrity.
“You were in kyiv recently. You came here to discuss all the nuances existing in the Ukrainian file,” Mr. Putin noted on Friday.
But for the EU, which has cut ties with Moscow and harshly sanctioned Russia, Mr. Orban, whose country has been ensuring since 1er July the six-monthly presidency of the Council of the European Union, is not its representative in Moscow for this visit, and is not authorized to speak on its behalf about Ukraine.
He has received “no mandate”, insisted the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell on Friday, Mr Orban “therefore does not represent the EU in any way”.
Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, which brings together the leaders of the Twenty-Seven, reacted on Thursday evening to the unofficial announcement of this trip.
“The rotating EU presidency has no mandate to engage in dialogue with Russia on behalf of the EU,” Michel wrote on X. “The position of the European Council is clear: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussion can take place without Ukraine.”
EU solidarity with Ukraine will not weaken, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz assured.
“In the service of God”
The Hungarian leader, who has since the beginning of Russia’s assault on Ukraine defended a lenient position towards Moscow, arousing the ire of Europeans, considered himself, before leaving Budapest, to be on a mission for peace.
“Hungary does not have the mandate or the international political weight […] “But we can be an instrument in the service of God and of those who want peace,” he said, comments made on Friday before his trip to Moscow was confirmed.
The rotating presidency of the EU, which Hungary holds until the end of the year, allows the country holding it to control the agenda of the meetings of the 27, with the exception of those of the foreign ministers, a power which is not insignificant but not absolute, according to several European diplomats.
Budapest had promised to ensure a “normal” presidency, despite the many disagreements, particularly over Russia, which set it against its partners.
“We will act as an impartial mediator,” said European Affairs Minister Janos Boka, before adding that Hungary would take the opportunity to put forward its “vision of Europe” and “get things back on track.” […] in the right direction”.