Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday, days after a similar visit to Kiev, Ukraine, to discuss ongoing Russian aggression with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
While the Kremlin gave Orban a warm welcome, as Kiev did less than a week earlier, European Union leaders issued statements that seemed to signal their opposition to his trip. Orban, who currently serves as president of the Council of the European Union, described the trip as a “peace mission” aimed at “clarifying the facts” between Zelensky and Putin, and hopes to create space for direct negotiations between the two countries.
President Putin spoke publicly alongside Prime Minister Orban. Explained He described Orban’s decision to invade Ukraine as “Europe’s biggest crisis” and declared that as head of the European Council he had “free control” over Orban.
But he also offered criticism unrelated to Ukraine, lamenting the decline in direct trade between Hungary and Russia, likely a result of Orbán attracting large amounts of Chinese investment.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban meet in Moscow, Russia, Friday, July 5, 2024. (Valery Sharifulin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via The Associated Press)
“I know that you are here not only as a long-standing partner, but also as the President of the Council of the European Union,” Putin said. “I hope that we will have the opportunity to exchange views on building bilateral relations in these difficult conditions and, of course, to discuss possible scenarios regarding the biggest European crisis, namely the crisis in Ukraine.”
“I want you to know your personal position and that of our European partners,” Putin continued, in a translation of his remarks by the Kremlin. “Regarding bilateral relations, unfortunately, there has been a significant drop in trade, by more than 35 percent. But overall, there is a lot to work on. We are implementing ambitious projects.”
“Either way, it’s good to meet you and we have a lot to discuss,” he concluded.
According to the Kremlin, Orban highlighted how frequently the two men have met in person – 11 times over the past decade, more than once a year – and thanked Putin for accommodating his visit.
“I am very grateful that you agreed to meet with us in these difficult circumstances,” Orbán was quoted as saying. “The number of countries able to negotiate with both sides in this conflict is rapidly decreasing. Soon, Hungary will probably be the only country able to negotiate with all parties.”
Shortly before arriving, Prime Minister Orban issued a statement on social media, saying his visit to Moscow was “Peace Mission.”
of #peace The mission continues. Second destination: #Moscow. pic.twitter.com/kPOkKBsJQm
— Viktor Orban (@PM_ViktorOrban) July 5, 2024
Orbán chose Ukraine for his first foreign visit since taking up his six-month term as council president. While Orbán and Zelenskyy officially maintain bilateral ties, their personal relationship has been difficult and they have been seen arguing on camera multiple times at events attended by both. During their visit to Kiev on Tuesday, both men publicly acknowledged the difficulties in their relationship but offered assurances they were open to talks.
“I’ve come with the intention of moving bilateral relations forward,” Orban said in Kiev. “We are trying to put past conflicts in the past and focus on the future. I hope that we can achieve better relations between our two countries.”
Zelenskyy hailed the “good progress” between Ukraine and Hungary and thanked Orbán for visiting Kiev and signing a declaration that emerged from a “peace summit” that Zelensky hosted in Switzerland. Orbán’s visit, he said, “sends a clear signal to all of us about the importance of European unity and joint efforts.”
It is worth noting, however, that after the meeting reports said that Prime Minister Orbán had tried to persuade President Zelensky to return to the negotiating table with Russia, but failed as Ukraine refused to hold bilateral talks as long as Russia continued to colonize Ukrainian territory.
“International diplomacy is slow and complicated,” says Prime Minister Orban Confirmed“I have suggested to the President that he should consider whether it would be possible to reverse the order by expediting peace negotiations with a rapid ceasefire.”
Orban spoke again in an interview with Hungarian radio on Friday. Emphasized He said he had tried to persuade Russia and Ukraine to accept “a long road leading to a ceasefire and peace talks” and appeared to criticise the European Union for what he felt was not doing enough to end the killings in Ukraine.
“You can’t make peace sitting in a comfortable chair in Brussels,” Orbán said. “Even if the EU presidency doesn’t have the mandate to negotiate on behalf of the EU, we can’t just sit back and wait for the war to miraculously end.”
We cannot make peace from a comfortable armchair in Brussels. Even if the EU Presidency does not have the mandate to negotiate on behalf of the EU, we cannot sit back and wait for the war to miraculously end. We can act as a vital tool to take the first steps towards peace… pic.twitter.com/5pqREmP8EN
— Viktor Orban (@PM_ViktorOrban) July 5, 2024
The European Union’s unelected leaders appear to be opposed to Orban’s policies as well, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warning Orban in a social media post on Friday that “appeasement will not stop Putin.”
Hungarian translator Visiting Moscow:
Appeasement will not stop Putin.
Only unity and determination will pave the way to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 5, 2024
EU Foreign Affairs Minister Josep Borrell issued The statement explicitly rejected the idea that Orbán was in Moscow as president of the European Council, claiming that “the Prime Minister therefore does not represent the EU in any way.”
