Orban Criticized for Talks with Putin

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's recent diplomatic efforts have stirred controversy within the European Union. Orban held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, discussing a potential Ukrainian peace deal. This meeting, the first between an EU leader and Putin in Moscow since April 2022, has drawn sharp criticism from fellow EU leaders and Ukraine.

Orban's visit to Moscow followed his trip to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the formation of the "Patriots for Europe" alliance with other right-wing nationalists. These actions, occurring just days into Hungary's six-month rotating EU presidency, have raised concerns about Orban's intentions and alignment with EU policies.

Putin described the talks as useful but accused Ukraine of being unwilling to end the conflict. He reiterated Russia's stance on potential negotiations, which Ukraine has previously rejected as tantamount to surrender.

Orban, known for his criticism of Western military aid to Ukraine and warm relations with Putin, defended his trip as a step towards restoring dialogue. He acknowledged having no EU mandate for the visit but argued that peace could not be achieved "from a comfortable armchair in Brussels."

The Hungarian leader's actions have been met with skepticism from EU diplomats and criticism from other European leaders. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda accused Orban of undermining the EU presidency, while Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas suggested he was exploiting his position to sow confusion.

As Hungary begins its EU presidency with the slogan "Make Europe Great Again," echoing former U.S. President Donald Trump, Orban's spokesman has indicated the prime minister's intention to use the presidency in a political way. This approach, coupled with recent diplomatic moves, has heightened tensions within the EU and raised questions about Hungary's role in shaping European policy during its presidency.