Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made an unexpected visit to Russia on Friday, where he met with President Vladimir Putin to discuss potential ways to resolve the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The sudden trip caused outrage among Orban’s fellow European Union (EU) leaders, as it came just days after the Hungarian premier conducted a similar unannounced visit to Ukraine.
Hungary currently holds the rotating EU presidency for the remainder of this year. However, Orban has claimed that he does not require any sort of mandate from Brussels in order to promote peace, stating that his discussions cannot be considered official negotiations. The Hungarian premier argues that peace cannot be achieved “from a comfortable armchair in Brussels.
Before meeting Putin, Orban visited Kiev earlier in the week and urged Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to seek peace with Russia. Orban believes that a ceasefire could serve as an initial step in the right direction, although the Ukrainian leader did not seem receptive to this proposal. The Ukrainian government maintains that only a military victory will result in “a just peace.
During his meeting with Putin, Orban sought to hear directly from the Russian president about Russia’s perception of various peace initiatives. He acknowledged that there is a major rift between the conflicting sides but emphasized that establishing contact was an important first step towards resolving the conflict.
Putin and Orban discussed potential ways out of the ongoing crisis, with Orban later revealing to journalists that Moscow’s and Kiev’s positions remain “far apart.” The Hungarian prime minister stated that a lot of steps need to be taken in order to get closer to a resolution of the war but acknowledged that the most important step – establishing contact – has already been accomplished.
Orban emphasized his commitment to continuing these efforts, with Putin reiterating his willingness to engage in negotiations to resolve the conflict. The Russian president has maintained that Moscow is seeking a lasting and sustainable peace rather than opting for temporary ceasefires or “frozen conflicts.” Putin expressed concerns about the potential consequences of a direct clash between the EU and Russia, stating that the current economic sanctions have hurt European nations more than Russia.
The Hungarian PM’s visit to Moscow drew strong criticism from EU leaders and officials, despite Orban insisting earlier in the day that he was not representing the union. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen accused Hungary’s prime minister of “appeasement” with regards to Putin, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that Orban’s visit had nothing to do with the EU and that its position on the conflict remains unchanged.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas joined other Western officials in reprimanding Orban, accusing him of attempting to “sow confusion.” The enduring conflict between Russia and Ukraine is affecting the broader European region, according to the Hungarian PM, who has expressed concern that Western determination to escalate the Ukraine conflict may result in a direct clash with Russia, which could have catastrophic consequences for everyone involved.
Budapest has argued that the economic restrictions spawned by the conflict have hurt EU nations more than Russia and have failed to compel Moscow to capitulate.