EU officials are discussing the possibility of stripping Hungary of its presidency of the Council of the Union following Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Russia, where he met with Vladimir Putin, the Financial Times reported, citing informed sources.
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Orban's unannounced visit to Russia to promote peace talks with Ukraine has drawn sharp condemnation from the EU and NATO, which immediately said that Orban had not represented them in his talks with the Russian president.
The EU's legal service told member states on Wednesday that Orban's actions violated the bloc's treaties, which prohibit any “measures that could jeopardize the achievement of the Union's objectives.”
“It was a political mistake to go to Moscow,” said European Council President Charles Michel, who represents the 27-member EU.
From July 1, Hungary took on a six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council of Ministers, a role that allows government members Orbán to chair the meetings. EU officials believe that Orbán abused this status to give his meeting with Putin greater significance.
“Peace mission”
In July, Orbán announced his “peace mission” and visited alternately Kyiv, Moscow and Beijing, where he held meetings with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, Putin and Xi Jinping. Orban suggested Zelensky and Putin consider a ceasefire.
Following the negotiations, Orban said that the positions of Moscow and Kyiv are very far from each other and “many steps need to be taken” to get closer to ending the war. Orban called China a key country in creating conditions for establishing peace in Ukraine.