EU officials have expressed strong disapproval of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin,
especially following Orban's recent visit to Ukraine. Orban, who currently holds the rotating EU presidency, is scheduled to travel to Moscow despite lacking a mandate from the EU to engage with Russia on its behalf. Central European investigative editor Szabolcs Panyi initially reported the planned trip, later confirmed by RFE/RL.
Orban's journey to Russia comes shortly after his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv. This sequence of events has sparked criticism from EU officials and commentators who argue that Orban's actions contradict the EU's current stance on Russia.
EU Council President Charles Michel underscored the EU's position on Twitter, stating, "The EU rotating presidency does not have the authority to negotiate with Russia on behalf of the EU. The European Council's stance is clear: Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim. Any discussions concerning Ukraine must involve Ukraine."
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also publicly questioned Orban's intentions, seeking clarification via Twitter and urging him to deny the circulating rumors.
Earlier in the week, during his visit to Kyiv, Orban presented Zelensky with a ceasefire proposal aimed at halting hostilities with Russia. This initiative, occurring shortly after Hungary assumed the EU presidency, drew attention due to Orban's vocal criticism of Western military support for Ukraine.
In a Facebook post upon arriving in Kyiv, Orban stated, "The Hungarian presidency aims to contribute to addressing the challenges facing the European Union. That's why my first official visit was to Kyiv."
Zelensky and his deputy chief of staff, Ihor Zhovkva, listened to Orban's proposal but reiterated Ukraine's firm stance in response.
Orban's last visit to Moscow was in September 2022, when he attended the funeral of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. Photo by European People's Party, Wikimedia commons.