Hungarian Prime Minister Orban meets Putin in Moscow: Criticism of Peace Mission

Hungarian Prime Minister Orban meets Putin in Moscow: Criticism of Peace Mission

Orban's visit to Moscow has heated the minds-Hungary Prime Minister Viktor Orban traveled to Moscow for a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin to discuss a solution in the Ukraine War. The journey confirmed by Orban's speaker Bertalan Havasi has led to a wave of criticism. The social democratic foreign politician Michael Roth called the visit a "scandal", since Orban continues to maintain close relationships with the Kremlin chief despite the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Orban defended his journey as a peace mission to take the first steps towards peace. However, the European Union expressed concerns and emphasized that Orban had no mandate from Brussels for the trip. Josep Borrell, the EU chief diplomat, explained that the visit takes place exclusively in the context of bilateral relationships between Hungary and Russia and does not represent the position of the Union.

The visit to Moscow followed a trip to Kiev in which Orban met Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj. The tensions between Budapest and Kiev are high because Orban helped to prevent help for Ukraine and to prevent sanctions against Russia. Hungary depends heavily on Russian gas deliveries and tries to extend an extension of the gas contract expiring at the end of the year. Despite Orban's proposal for a break, there has been no peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.

Both Putin and Selenskyj reject a ceasefire without preconditions. The Russian president emphasized that Ukraine had to take irreversible steps to de -escalation before the weapons could be silent. Orban last had direct contact with Putin in September 2022 and only visited the funeral of Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow.

- Nag