Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on July 5, 2024, for talks lasting over two and a half hours. The meeting, initiated by Orban, was described as ‘completely frank’ by Russian Presidential Adviser Yuri Ushakov. Orban emphasized the need for peace in Europe, stating that ‘Europe needs peace’ and that Hungary, as the current holder of the EU’s rotating presidency, would prioritize this issue over the next six months.Putin reiterated Russia’s conditions for peace, including the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from regions Russia claims to have annexed in 2022. He also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting that a ceasefire would pose a legitimacy problem for his government.The visit has been met with widespread criticism from EU officials, NATO, and Ukraine. European Council President Charles Michel emphasized that the rotating EU presidency has no mandate to negotiate with Russia on behalf of the EU. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that Hungary’s position does not represent the alliance’s stance. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry expressed dismay at Orban’s decision to visit Moscow without approval or coordination with Kyiv.Orban defended his visit, stating that Hungary is the only European country that can speak to both sides of the conflict. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto justified the visit as an attempt to achieve peace, asserting that ‘the war has no solution on the battlefield’.Despite the controversy, no concrete results emerged from the meeting. The positions of Ukraine and Russia remain far apart, with Putin stating that Ukraine will continue to fight until a ‘victorious end’. As tensions within the EU rise over this diplomatic move, the international community watches closely to see how this meeting might impact the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the broader geopolitical landscape in Europe.
Key points
- Hungarian PM Viktor Orban met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for over two hours to discuss the Ukraine conflict.
- Orban emphasized Hungary’s role in pursuing peace during its EU presidency, while Putin reiterated Russia’s conditions for peace.
- The visit has been widely criticized by EU officials, NATO, and Ukraine, who stress that Orban does not represent the EU in these talks.
- No concrete results emerged from the meeting, with positions between Ukraine and Russia remaining far apart.
Contradictions👾While Orban claims to be on a peace mission, EU officials and Ukraine view his actions as potentially undermining EU unity and Ukraine’s position.
👾Putin views Orban’s visit as an attempt by the EU to revive dialogue with Russia, while EU officials explicitly state that Orban does not represent the EU in these talks.
