The Hungarian prime minister met with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of what he called a “peace mission” with Ukraine.
ADVERTISEMENTIt is one of the rare visits by a European leader to the country since the invasion of Ukraine and it has caused controversy in Brussels.
The meeting between the Hungarian prime minister and the Russian president comes just days after a similar visit to Ukraine, where Orban held talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky and offered Kyiv an immediate ceasefire with Moscow.
Her trip to the Russian capital has drawn criticism from other European leaders: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen believes that unity is the only path to peace in Ukraine.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wonders who Orban serves: Peace or the Kremlin.
The President of the Council, Charles Michel, recalls that he has no mandate to engage the Union in contacts with Russia.
Viktor Orban has regularly blocked, delayed or watered down European efforts to help Ukraine and impose sanctions on Moscow. His country still blocks military support worth more than €6 billion to Kyiv.
His visit to Russia comes just days after the start of Hungary’s presidency of the European Union.
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings