Hungary could be removed from EU presidency after Orban's visits to Russia and China - Politico
Kyiv • UNN
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's "peacekeeping mission" visits to Moscow and Beijing during Hungary's EU presidency have angered the EU, which may strip Hungary of its presidency within weeks because Orbán's diplomacy undermines the bloc's unity against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The European Union is dissatisfied with Orban's "peace mission", which he launched as soon as Hungary took over the EU Council. Politico writes about this with reference to diplomatic sources, UNN reports.
Details
One of the interlocutors of the publication said that Orban's diplomatic mission "killed" Hungary's presidency in the EU. According to him, after the Hungarian prime minister's meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Hungary's presidency "ends before it begins.
Politico writes that EU ambassadors will discuss the Hungarian presidency and Orban's recent travels at their meeting on Wednesday, July 10. Another diplomat said that an upcoming meeting of EU ambassadors is being discussed, adding that "there is very clear political disapproval" of Hungary's actions.
Tensions will continue to rise during Hungary's presidency, the newspaper writes, as Budapest is blocking EU funding for weapons that Ukraine is supposed to receive.
If they (EU leaders) demonstrate the determination to give a proper response to Orban's diplomacy, (...) they can get rid of the Hungarian presidency within a few weeks
It is noted that a qualified majority of four-fifths of the European Council will be required to change the rotating presidency schedule and postpone the start date of Poland's future presidency by several months.
Nevertheless, Politico is confident that Brussels is unlikely to immediately deprive Hungary of the presidency, although mechanisms for this exist.
White House comments on Orban's visit to MoscowJul 7 2024, 02:48 AM • 106004 views
Context
On July 2, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Kyiv to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A few days later, the Hungarian prime minister made an unannounced visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
In conclusion, Viktor Orban traveled to China. During his meeting with Orban, Chinese President Xi Jinping also spoke about "a quick ceasefire and political settlement" of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
Recall
Bloomberg, citing its own sources, said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visits to Moscow and Beijing to meet with Putin and Xi Jinping have irritated Western allies.
