Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visits to Moscow and Beijing have raised concerns among European Union and NATO member countries. Orbán's diplomatic engagements, which included discussions about a peace deal, have prompted EU and NATO officials to clarify that Orbán was not authorized to negotiate on behalf of the EU, TASS reports.
On July 5, Orbán met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to discuss potential solutions to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the initiation of peace negotiations. This move led to responses from EU and NATO countries, emphasizing that Orbán lacked the mandate from the EU to engage in such discussions.
Following his visit to Moscow, Orbán traveled to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping. These meetings were part of a broader diplomatic effort by Orbán to engage with key global players on the issue of Ukraine. Before his visit to Russia, Orbán also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 2 in Kyiv to discuss the conflict and explore avenues for peace.
The timing of Orbán’s diplomatic outreach is significant as Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the EU Council on July 1 for a six-month term. This has added another layer of complexity, as Hungary's leadership within the EU is expected to influence the bloc's policies and responses to global issues during this period.
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