The Hungarian Prime Minister, who took over the rotating presidency of the European Union on July 1, is meeting Vladimir Putin this Friday.
For several days, there had been a rumour in Brussels that Viktor Orban was planning to make an official visit to Moscow. His entourage confirmed around noon his arrival in the Russian capital and his meeting with the president.
This trip is presented by Budapest as a “peace mission”.
Budapest took over the rotating presidency of the European Union last Monday and the Hungarian prime minister first travelled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Some condemn these discussions with Vladimir Putin.
Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, condemned it very clearly: “The rotating presidency has no mandate to open discussions with Russia on behalf of the European Union” he said, adding that “no discussion can take place on Ukraine in his absence“.
The Hungarian government has set its priorities for the next six months: a firm line on immigration, enlargement and European defence.
But the Hungary still blocks military support worth over 6 billion euros to Ukraine and prefers to focus on humanitarian aid.
Ukrainian troops have been losing ground in Donbass in recent days: Moscow says it has hit three Ukrainian air bases and Kyiv has announced the withdrawal of its troops from a district of the strategic city of Chassiv Yar.
