8 EU Leaders Denounce Orbán’s Visit to Moscow as Undermining Unity on Ukraine

It was reported on July 5 that Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is on his way to Russia, days after his surprise meeting with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the first time in 14 years and since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The Hungarian news agency MTI confirmed that Orbán will hold a meeting with Russian self-proclaimed President Vladimir Putin.

Several EU leaders have weighed in on Hungarian Prime Minister Orban’s visit to Moscow.

1. The High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, who stated:

“Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Moscow takes place, exclusively, in the framework of the bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia. Prime Minister Orbán has not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow. The EU position on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is reflected in many European Council conclusions. That position excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin. The Hungarian Prime Minister is thus not representing the EU in any form.

In addition, it is worth recalling that President Putin has been indicted by the International Criminal Court and an arrest warrant released for his role in relation to the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.”

2. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen wrote on her X:

“Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán is visiting Moscow: Appeasement will not stop Putin. Only unity and determination will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

3. President of the Republic of Lithuania Gitanas Nauseda also commented on the visit:

“The unilateral decision by Viktor Orbán to go to Moscow doesn’t in any shape or form represent the EU position. It also undermines the credibility of Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. If you truly seek peace, you don’t shake hands with a bloody dictator, you put all your efforts to support Ukraine.”

4. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson voiced his condemn on his X account:

“Irresponsible and disloyal of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to use Hungary’s EU Presidency to visit Moscow and President Putin. It sends the wrong signal to the outside world and is an insult to the Ukrainian people’s fight for their freedom. Viktor Orbán stands alone in this. He does not speak for the European Union and not for other EU Heads of State or Government.”

5. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stood with his EU colleagues:

“Viktor Orbán is traveling to Putin as the Prime Minister of Hungary. Charles Michel represents the European Council in foreign policy.

The EU’s position is very clear: we condemn Russia’s aggressive war. Ukraine can count on our support.”

6. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X:

“PM Orbán on his way to Moscow: ‘We will serve as an important tool in making the first step towards peace’. The question is in whose hands this tool is.”

7. The next EU’s High Representative and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas wrote on her X account:

“In Moscow, Viktor Orbán in no way represents the EU or the EU’s positions. He is exploiting the EU presidency position to sow confusion. The EU is united, clearly behind Ukraine and against Russian aggression.”

8. The Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala also posted on X:

“Viktor Orbán does not represent our or EU interests in Moscow. Nor does he have any mandate to negotiate on our behalf. The Czech position is clear: Putin is the aggressor, we stand with Ukraine.”