The Prime Minister of Hungary met with Putin

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban traveled to Moscow today (Friday) amid opposition from European officials and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to Al Jazeera, in the press conference that was held after the bilateral meeting with Orban, Putin described the conversation between the two sides as “honest and useful” and announced the discussion about Ukraine’s situation in the war. The Prime Minister of Hungary also announced that he has taken the first step to revive the dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. Putin expressed gratitude for the move, but Kiev remains unwilling to end the conflict. 

Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the European Union this month and announced that it plans to use it to end the war in Ukraine. Brussels immediately condemned the visit, saying Orban was not speaking on behalf of the European Union and had received no mandate from the European Council to travel to Moscow.  Josep Borrell, the head of EU foreign policy, also wrote in this regard: “Viktor Orban’s visit to Moscow takes place exclusively within the framework of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia… Therefore, the Prime Minister of Hungary is not a representative of the European Union in any way.” 

Orban previously traveled to Kiev on Tuesday and asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to return to peace talks with Russia.

Translator: Zahra Najafi