EU foreign policy chief slams Orbán’s visit to Moscow for talks with Putin

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Moscow is taking place, exclusively, in the framework of the bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a July 5 statement.

The Hungarian PM arrived in Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for talks on the war in Ukraine, the BBC reported.

Borrell, noting that Hungary currently holds the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU until December 31 2024, said that this does not entail any external representation of the EU, which is responsibility of the President of the European Council at head of state or government level and of the EU foreign policy chief at ministerial level.

“Prime Minister Orbán has not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow,” Borrell said.

“The EU position on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is reflected in many European Council conclusions. That position excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin. The Hungarian Prime Minister is thus not representing the EU in any form,” he said.

“In addition, it is worth recalling that President Putin has been indicted by the International Criminal Court and an arrest warrant released for his role in relation to the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia,” Borrell said.

(Photo: EC Audiovisual Service)

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