Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday, sparking criticism from the European Union for potentially undermining the bloc’s unified stance on the Ukraine conflict. The visit, which took place just days after Hungary assumed the EU’s rotating presidency, raised concerns that Orban may be acting independently of the bloc’s policies and potentially hindering efforts to pressure Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Putin hosted Orban, who has been a vocal critic of EU sanctions against Russia and has maintained close ties with Moscow, at the Kremlin. The Russian president said he expected Orban to represent the EU’s perspective on the Ukraine conflict, given his current role as president of the EU Council. However, Orban’s visit was met with disapproval from various EU leaders, who emphasized that no official discussions regarding Ukraine should take place without Ukraine’s involvement.
EU officials, including Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, condemned the meeting, arguing that it could be perceived as appeasement of Russia and that Orban had not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow. They reiterated the EU’s firm opposition to Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine, highlighted the imposition of numerous sanctions on Moscow, and noted that President Putin had been indicted by the International Criminal Court.
Ukrainian officials were also critical of the meeting, asserting that they had not been consulted or involved in its planning. They stressed that the decision to visit Moscow was made solely by the Hungarian side and expressed their disappointment with Orban’s actions.
Orban’s visit to Moscow comes shortly after a surprise trip to Kyiv, where he urged Ukrainian leaders to pursue a rapid ceasefire with Russia. However, his meeting with Putin has further strained relations with other EU member states, including Poland and Finland, who expressed their concern and disapproval. The visit marks the first time a European leader has traveled to Moscow since Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s visit in April 2022.
Orban has defended his decision to meet with Putin, emphasizing the need for dialogue to achieve peace in Ukraine. He argued that remaining solely in Brussels would not bring the conflict to an end and that action is necessary to facilitate peace negotiations. However, his efforts to engage with Moscow have been met with skepticism from EU allies and raise questions about his commitment to the bloc’s united stance on Russia’s actions in Ukraine.
