In a recent discussion at the United Nations Security Council, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Szijjarto criticized the European Union’s attempts to prohibit Hungary from engaging in contacts with Moscow in order to settle the conflict in Ukraine. He stated that his country rejects such policies, referring to them as “unacceptable” and “a scandal.
Szijjarto’s comments were made in response to criticism of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his peace-oriented efforts regarding the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. Orban recently embarked on a 10-day peacemaking mission, during which he held talks with Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev on July 2nd, and subsequently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow three days later. Further meetings were held with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at a NATO summit in Washington, and former US President Donald Trump in Florida.
During these meetings, Orban discussed various ways of settling the ongoing crisis in Ukraine. However, his visits to Moscow and Beijing sparked open criticism from Brussels, where European leaders stated that although Hungary holds the rotating presidency in the Council of the European Union, they have given Hungary no powers to negotiate on behalf of the entire European community.
The Hungarian government responded by asserting that Prime Minister Orban represented his own country during these visits and emphasized that his peace mission will continue despite any criticism he may face.