Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, with no mandate from the European Union.
At a press convention after their assembly, Putin mentioned on Friday that the talks had been “frank and helpful” and that they mentioned the scenario in Ukraine. Nonetheless, the Russian chief reiterated that Moscow’s peace proposals needs to be key to any negotiations.
Putin added that he was grateful to Orban for an try at restoring dialogue between Russia and Europe, however Kyiv was nonetheless not keen to cease the battle.
On the press convention, Orban additionally mentioned that “many steps” had been wanted to finish the Russia-Ukraine struggle.
“We took step one to revive dialogue,” Orban mentioned, including that “factors of view remained removed from one another in Kyiv and Moscow.”
Earlier, Orban posted on X about his journey to the Russian capital, days after his first stop in Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Hungary took over the rotating EU presidency this month, with Orban saying he desires to make use of it to advocate for an finish to the preventing in Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2022.
In televised feedback firstly of their assembly, Putin recommended that Orban had come to Moscow as a consultant of the European Council, regardless of a number of European officers having condemned the go to.
“I perceive that this time you could have come not simply as our longstanding accomplice however as president of the council,” Putin instructed Orban, including that he anticipated him to stipulate “the place of European companions” on Ukraine.
However EU international affairs chief Josep Borrell mentioned Orban had not obtained any mandate to go to Moscow, consigning the go to to “the framework of … bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia”.
The Hungarian chief “is thus not representing the EU in any kind,” Borrell mentioned in a press release.
Orban, who’s seen because the closest European chief to Putin, has usually blocked and delayed the 27-member bloc’s efforts on monetary and navy support for Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia.
Hungary has additionally angered Ukraine by criticising the EU opening formal membership talks with Kyiv, though it ended up abstaining relatively than vetoing the transfer.
Borrell famous that Putin “has been indicted by the Worldwide Prison Court docket and an arrest warrant launched for his position in relation to the pressured deportation of youngsters from Ukraine to Russia”.
European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Friday that “appeasement won’t cease” Putin. “Solely unity and dedication will pave the trail to a complete, simply and lasting peace in Ukraine,” she mentioned on X.
Hungarian @PM_ViktorOrban is visiting Moscow:
Appeasement won’t cease Putin.
Solely unity and dedication will pave the trail to a complete, simply and lasting peace in Ukraine.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 5, 2024
In Kyiv on Tuesday, Orban urged Zelenskyy to work in the direction of a “time-limited” ceasefire with Russia to hurry up peace talks.
The Ukrainian chief as an alternative referred to as on Orban to again Kyiv’s steps to work for peace along with worldwide companions.
No mandate
Whereas Hungary could maintain the EU’s presidency for six months, European Council President Charles Michel identified on Thursday that it had “no mandate to interact with Russia on behalf of the EU”.
“The European Council is obvious: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the sufferer. No discussions about Ukraine can happen with out Ukraine,” he posted on X.
The EU rotating presidency has no mandate to interact with Russia on behalf of the EU.
The European Council is obvious: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the sufferer. No discussions about Ukraine can happen with out Ukraine.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) July 4, 2024
The EU has firmly opposed Russia’s struggle on Ukraine, imposing 14 rounds of unprecedented sanctions on Russia over the invasion, which Orban has repeatedly sought to melt.
Orban insisted on Friday that peace can’t be achieved with out dialogue.
“If we simply sit in Brussels, we received’t have the ability to get any nearer to peace. Motion should be taken,” Orban mentioned on Hungarian state radio when requested about his Tuesday go to to Ukraine.
His Moscow go to could be the primary by an EU chief since Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in April 2022. Orban and Putin final met in October 2023 in Beijing, the place they mentioned vitality cooperation.