MOSCOW (AP) 鈥 Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orb谩n visited Moscow to discuss prospects for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare trip to Russia by a European leader that drew condemnation from Kyiv and European leaders.
Orb谩n's visit comes only days after he made a similar unannounced trip to Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and proposed that Ukraine consider agreeing to an immediate cease-fire with Russia.
鈥淭he number of countries that can talk to both warring sides is diminishing,鈥 Orb谩n said. 鈥淗ungary is slowly becoming the only country in Europe that can speak to everyone.鈥
Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the EU at the start of July and Putin suggested that Orb谩n had come to Moscow as a top representative of the European Council. Several top European officials dismissed that suggestion and said Orb谩n had no mandate for anything beyond a discussion about bilateral relations.
The Hungarian prime minister, widely seen as having the warmest relations with , has routinely EU efforts to assist Kyiv and impose sanctions on Moscow for its actions in Ukraine. He has long argued for a cessation of hostilities in Ukraine but without outlining what that might mean for the country's territorial integrity or future security.
That posture has frustrated Hungary鈥檚 EU and NATO allies, who have denounced Russia鈥檚 actions as a breach of international law and a threat to the security of countries in Eastern Europe.
Speaking after the Kremlin talks, Orb谩n said he told Putin that "Europe needs peace,鈥 adding that he asked the Russian leader for his thoughts on existing peace plans and whether he believed a cease-fire could precede any potential peace talks.
Standing alongside Orb谩n, Putin declared that Russia wouldn鈥檛 accept any cease-fire or temporary break in hostilities that would allow Ukraine 鈥渢o recoup losses, regroup and rearm.鈥
The Russian leader repeated his demand that Ukraine withdraw its troops from the four regions that Moscow claims to have annexed in 2022 as a condition for any prospective peace talks. Ukraine and its Western allies have rejected that demand, suggesting it is akin to asking Kyiv to withdraw from its own territory.
Putin said they also exchanged views on the current state of Russia-EU relations which, are 鈥渘ow at their lowest point.鈥
Hungary at the beginning of the month took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council, a largely formal role that can be used to shape the bloc鈥檚 policy agenda.
Orb谩n said that he looks at his six-month presidency of the EU Council as a 鈥減eace mission,鈥 saying the fighting in Ukraine had burdened Europe鈥檚 security and economy, and that only dialogue and diplomacy could bring an end to the hostilities.
鈥淚 wanted to know where we can find the shortest road to peace,鈥 Orb谩n said of his visit, adding that he鈥檇 also asked Putin on his view on Europe鈥檚 long-term security after hostilities end in Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that the visit to Moscow was Orb谩n鈥檚 idea and was only agreed to on Wednesday, adding that Moscow valued Orb谩n鈥檚 鈥漵trong, clear and consistent course鈥 aimed at trying to resolve the conflict.
Ukraine鈥檚 Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Orb谩n's decision to visit Moscow was made 鈥渨ithout approval or coordination鈥 with Kyiv. It added that 鈥渢he principle of 鈥榥o agreements on Ukraine without Ukraine鈥 remains inviolable for our country鈥 and called on all states to strictly adhere to it.
European officials have heavily criticized Orb谩n's trip to Moscow, the first such visit by a European leader since Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer met with Putin in the Kremlin in April 2022, just weeks after Russia sent troops into Ukraine.
鈥淭his is about appeasement. It鈥檚 not about peace,鈥 European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer said.
The EU鈥檚 foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said in a statement that Orb谩n鈥檚 visit to Moscow 鈥渢akes place, exclusively, in the framework of the bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia.鈥
鈥淧rime Minister Orb谩n has not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow,鈥 Borrell said, adding that his 鈥減osition excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin. The Hungarian Prime Minister is thus not representing the EU in any form.鈥
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre voiced concern about Orb谩n's trip to Moscow, noting that it "will not advance the cause of peace and is counterproductive to promoting Ukraine鈥檚 sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence.鈥
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Orb谩n informed him in advance about his travel to Moscow but that he 鈥渋s not representing NATO at these meetings."
Kaja Kallas, the outgoing Estonian prime minister nominated to become the next EU foreign policy chief, accused Orb谩n of 鈥渆xploiting" the presidency and said the Hungarian leader is trying 鈥渢o sow confusion.鈥
"The EU is united, clearly behind Ukraine and against Russian aggression,鈥 Kallas, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, wrote Friday on the social media platform X.
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Spike reported from Budapest, Hungary. Associated Press writers Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, and Emma Burrows in London contributed to this report.
