Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's recent visit to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin has sparked controversy and outrage among European Union leaders. Orban's trip, the first by an EU leader to Moscow since April 2022, comes at a sensitive time as Hungary has assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The meeting between Putin and Orban focused on discussions regarding the conflict in Ukraine. Putin expressed Russia's willingness to engage in political and diplomatic dialogue to seek a resolution to the conflict, while reiterating Russia's existing terms, which have been deemed unacceptable by Ukraine and its allies.
Orban's press secretary emphasized the significance of the visit, highlighting it as the first meeting between the two leaders since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Orban has been a key ally of Putin in Europe, advocating for a ceasefire rather than military intervention in Ukraine.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized Orban's decision to visit Moscow, stating that appeasement is not the solution to dealing with Putin. She emphasized the importance of unity and determination among EU members to achieve a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
Ukraine also expressed disapproval of Orban's visit, emphasizing the principle of including Ukraine in any discussions related to the conflict. The Ukrainian foreign ministry reiterated President Zelensky's peace plan as the only realistic path to restoring peace in the region.
Orban's trip to Moscow followed his recent visit to Kyiv, where he urged Zelensky to consider a ceasefire to facilitate peace talks with Russia. Zelensky rejected this proposal, underscoring the complexities of the ongoing conflict and the differing approaches to resolving it.
