The head of the EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, made a statement regarding the visit of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who currently holds the EU presidency, to Moscow, noting that Orban had not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit the Russian capital and that the visit was taking place solely within the framework of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia, UNN reports.
Details
"Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Moscow is taking place exclusively within the framework of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia. Hungary is currently an EU member state holding the presidency of the Council (EU) until December 31, 2024. This does not imply any external representation of the Union, which is the responsibility of the President of the European Council at the level of the head of state or government and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at the ministerial level," the EU High Representative said in a statement.
The statement emphasizes that "Prime Minister Orban has not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow." "The EU's position on Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine is reflected in many conclusions of the European Council. This position excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin. Thus, the Hungarian prime minister does not represent the EU in any form," the statement reads.
"In addition, it is worth recalling that the International Criminal Court has indicted President Putin and issued an arrest warrant for his involvement in the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia," the statement reads.