Putin and Orban's Moscow peace talks challenge EU stance
9:02 AM EDT, July 5, 2024
"Negotiations between Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orban are ongoing at the Kremlin," reports Ria Novosti. It also publishes a recording capturing their greeting.
Contrary to the will of EU politicians, Viktor Orban arrived in Moscow on Friday. On his profile on platform X, he announced that he flew there "on a peace mission."
"The peace mission continues. Second stop - Moscow," Orban stated, posting a picture from Vnukovo Airport.
Greeting Orban at the Kremlin, Putin expressed his pleasure with the Hungarian prime minister's visit to Moscow. He emphasized that the Hungarian prime minister also arrived as a representative of the country holding the presidency of the EU Council.
Interestingly, EU representatives, including the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, stated, "Hungary, despite assuming the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months, has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU."
"The only country in Europe that can talk to everyone"
"One of the topics of conversation was the issue of resolving the situation in Ukraine," reports Ria Novosti. Putin conveyed that he is ready to present Orban with the details of Moscow's proposal on this issue.
"I would like to take this opportunity to discuss a number of important issues with you. I would like to know your position on matters important to Europe," said Orban. "We are slowly running out of countries that can talk to both sides of the conflict. Soon Hungary will be the only country in Europe that can talk to everyone," he added.
On the Russian side, the participants in the negotiations include Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Assistant for International Affairs Yuri Ushakov, and Presidential Assistant Vladimir Medinsky, who in 2022 headed the Russian delegation during talks with Ukraine.
