Hungary’s Orbán Defends ‘Peace Mission’ With Putin In Moscow

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, one of Europe’s most pro-Russian leaders, met Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday as part of his efforts to end the war in Ukraine, despite condemnation from the European Union.

Orbán’s trip came just days after he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss a possible ceasefire with Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Yet Orbán acknowledged that he had no EU mandate to negotiate, although his nation took over the bloc’s rotating presidency from Belgium on July 1.

“What I’m doing may look like a negotiation format because we sit behind a table and discuss issues, but we don’t negotiate,” he said in an interview with Hungarian state radio. “That’s why I don’t even need a mandate because I don’t represent anything.”

However, he said he wanted to listen to both sides to see their red lines and what is possible to reach a ceasefire, followed by peace talks that Hungary is ready to host.

Shortly after landing in Russia for his first trip to the country since Putin launched his invasion, Orbán published a photo with the caption: “The peace mission continues. Second stop: Moscow.”

At the Kremlin, the two leaders held talks that a senior Moscow aide described as a “frank conversation” covering all Ukraine-related issues.

NO COMPROMISE

Speaking jointly to reporters afterward Putin signaled he was not ready to compromise on the maximalist demands he made of Ukraine last month.

He wants Kyiv to cede land occupied by Russian forces, withdraw troops deeper inside its territory, and drop its bid to join the NATO military alliance. “We are talking about the full withdrawal of all troops from the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics and from the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions,” Putin stressed.

These terms have already been rejected by Zelenskyy and his Western allies, saying Kyiv would have to relinquish four Ukrainian regions that Russia “annexed” but does not yet fully control militarily.

However, with Orbán’s ally Donald J. Trump likely returning to the White House, Kyiv realizes there is not much time left to change the reality on the ground.

Like Orbán, Trump believes there is no military solution to the armed conflict that is thought to have killed and injured some 500,000 soldiers on both sides.

Orbán said he had asked Putin about three main points: the current peace plans, the possibility of a cease-fire, and the future of the European security system. “I am grateful to the president for the open and honest discussion,” said Orbán. “I learned that the positions are [still] far from each other.”

Orbán thanked the Russian president for welcoming him “under these difficult circumstances.”

“Since 2009, it’s our 11th face-to-face dialogue. But it’s a more special occasion than the previous ones. As you said, Hungary holds the presidency of the Council of the EU from 1 July 1,” the Hungarian leader said.

“I have to admit that the number of countries that are able to talk to both parties in this war is slowly disappearing,” Orbán said.

“We are slowly reaching the point where Hungary is the only European country to talk to all the other countries. And I wanted to take advantage of this situation to talk with you about issues that are important for Europe,” he added.

Several EU leaders didn’t appreciate his efforts, with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson saying: “It sends the wrong signal to the outside world and is an insult to the Ukrainian people’s fight for their freedom.”

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed, saying Orbán was “traveling to Putin as Hungarian prime minister,” not as an envoy of the European Council. That echoed the message from European Council President Charles Michel, who wrote on X: “The EU rotating presidency has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU.”

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who is in line to be the EU’s next chief diplomat, said that Orbán “in no way represents the EU or the EU’s positions” when visiting Moscow. “He is exploiting the EU presidency position to sow confusion,” she said.

The EU’s executive European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned, “appeasement will not stop Putin. Only unity and determination will pave the path to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said there were “no signs Putin was ready to negotiate for peace.”

Despite the protests from Orbán’s European partners, the two leaders also discussed Russia-EU relations, which Putin said were “at a historic low.”

The Russian leader said he saw Orbán’s visit as an attempt to “restore dialogue” between international players.

Orbán clarified that he wanted to keep that dialogue going during Hungary’s EU presidency, organized with the Trump-inspired slogan: “Let’s Make Europe Great Again.”

Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.