Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's recent diplomatic efforts to broker peace in Ukraine have caused a stir within the European Union (EU), leading to the decision to relocate a strategic EU meeting from Budapest to Brussels next month.
The EU foreign affairs chief, Josep Borrell, emphasized the need to send a symbolic signal by moving the upcoming foreign and defense ministers' meeting to Brussels, citing concerns that Orbán's actions were undermining EU support for Kyiv.
Orbán's close ties with Russia and his unconventional approach to the Ukraine conflict have isolated him politically within the EU. His government's reluctance to impose sanctions on Moscow and support for Kyiv have drawn criticism from EU partners.
Despite objections from Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, the decision to relocate the meeting was made to reflect the EU's disapproval of Orbán's recent engagements with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Orbán's portrayal of himself as a mediator between conflicting parties in Ukraine has been met with skepticism by other EU leaders, who have made it clear that he does not speak on behalf of the entire bloc.
Orbán's world tour, which includes visits to Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, China, and the United States under the guise of a 'peace mission,' has raised concerns about Hungary's alignment with EU and NATO interests.
As Hungary holds the rotating EU presidency, the decision to relocate the strategic meeting underscores the divisions within the EU regarding Orbán's diplomatic initiatives and their impact on European unity and security.
