EU criticises Hungary's Orban for meeting with Russia's Putin

STRASBOURG,— The European Parliament issued a stern rebuke to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Wednesday following his recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. This latest reprimand underscores the mounting frustration within the EU over Budapest’s self-proclaimed Ukraine “peace mission.”

Orban has faced criticism from several European Union nations and leaders for his unexpected visits to Russia and China this month, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, all without the endorsement of the EU. Hungary currently holds the rotating six-month EU presidency, a role that allows Budapest to organize EU meetings but does not empower Orban to conduct foreign diplomacy on behalf of the 27-member bloc.

In a strongly worded resolution, the European Parliament denounced Orban’s visit to Russia as “a blatant violation of the EU’s Treaties and common foreign policy.” The assembly’s resolution stated that such actions by Orban should result in “repercussions for Hungary.”

The resolution, which reiterated the EU’s unwavering support for Ukraine, was adopted by a significant majority of 495 lawmakers out of the 679 who voted. “Orban met with Putin to undermine the EU, to claim he has a peace plan that remains undisclosed, and to further Russian expansionism,” commented Iratxe Garcia Perez, leader of the socialist group in the European Parliament.

Despite the criticism, the Hungarian government has defended Orban’s actions, citing their longstanding ties with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. “It’s unacceptable to stigmatize a country for advocating diplomatic solutions,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijarto asserted in a statement posted on social media by Orban‘s spokesperson.

The European Parliament’s resolution also called on Hungary to lift its block on the reimbursement of EU member states for military aid to Ukraine through a fund known as the European Peace Facility. This action would align Hungary’s stance with the broader EU commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst ongoing conflict.

As the controversy continues, the European Parliament’s message remains clear: unilateral diplomatic actions by member states that contradict collective EU foreign policy will not be tolerated.

Putin initiated an invasion of Ukraine from multiple directions—north, east, and south—on February 24, 2022, posing a significant threat to the stability of Europe’s post-Cold War order.

(With files from Reuters)