«The peace mission continues. Second stop: Moscow». This is how Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced his landing in Russia. He does it shortly after visiting Ukraine and on the fifth day of his rotating presidency of the Council. He terrible child of European politics takes a stand against its Euro-Atlantic allies. In Brussels they did it remembered what is being done a photograph with a leader who has an arrest warrant. The message coming from the rest of the member states is unanimous: Orban represents only himself and does not speak on behalf of the EU.
«Peace cannot be achieved by sitting in a comfortable armchair in Brussels.. Even though the rotating EU presidency does not have the mandate to negotiate on behalf of the EU, we cannot sit back and wait for the war to miraculously end. We will be an important tool take the first steps towards peace. «This is our mission,» Orban warmed up his controversial trip on local radio before heading to Moscow.
The Hungarian president concludes his first week at the helm of the EU with a visit to Vladimir Putin. The warnings and the riots in the capital of the community were not long in coming. In the background, the forms. For the objective and for the moment. Both in Brussels and in the rest of the member states the message that emerges is unanimous: Orban does not have the competence to tarnish the European position on the war in Ukraine.
«The rotating presidency has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU,» the capitals repeat. Allied sources acknowledge that, although the situation is «uncomfortable and undesirable,» they downplay its practical significance: «It is still shocking. [Sin embargo] «Its real impact is almost anecdotal, practically nil and non-existent from a political point of view.»
Rain of criticism
If it is true that every country uses the Presidency of the EU Council to show off, promote its own interests or hide internal problems during this semester, the feeling is that Orban has gone too far. Sweden called his move «irresponsible» and «disloyal.» «It sends the wrong signal to the outside world and is an insult to the Ukrainian people’s struggle for freedom. Viktor Orban is alone in this,» his prime minister noted via X.
The closing of ranks with Ukraine was indisputable. «The European Council is clear: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. «The debate on Ukraine cannot take place without Ukraine,» Charles Michel, President of the European Council, reacted. «Prime Minister Orban has not received any mandate from the European Council to visit Moscow. The EU position on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin. Therefore, the Hungarian Prime Minister does not represent the EU in any way,» Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy, added in a statement. Michel and Borrell, heads of the European Council and the Foreign Affairs Council, are responsible for the two forums that mark the bloc’s position abroad.
For his part, the High Representative reminded Orban that the Kremlin tenant has a arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for his role in the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia. «If you really seek peace, you do not shake hands with a bloodthirsty dictator, but put all your efforts into supporting Ukraine,» denounced Gitanas Nauseda, President of Lithuania. «Peacemaking will not stop Putin. Only unity and determination will pave the way for a broad, just and lasting peace in Ukraine,» agreed Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission.
What kind of peace?
On Monday, Orban will take over the presidency of the EU Council. On Tuesday, he made a surprise landing in Kiev and this Friday, he will close his first week at the European helm in Moscow. The Hungarian he is increasingly isolated in Brussels and wants to score an international goal. He also awaits the possible return of his ally and admired Donald Trump to the White House, with whom he shares his vision on Ukraine.
While in the country, the Hungarian Prime Minister conveyed to Volodymyr Zelenski his idea of promoting a peace plan that includes a ceasefire agreement. According to him, Ukraine should sacrifice itself and give up part of its territory to Putin in order to achieve lasting peace.
These are two red lines both in Brussels and in Kievwho see the ceasefire as a concession to Moscow without guarantees and without the opportunity for the Russian army to gain time and rearm. For Orban, peace will not come from the battlefield. For the rest of the steps will be carried out only on the ground. «He speaks of peace, but forgets the adjectives fair and lasting. If in those adjectives the peace that Orban speaks of will do nothing but falsely end the crisis», summarize allied sources.
