He had visited Putin: Reaction from the EU to Hungary

The repercussions of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Russia under the name of a "peace mission" continue. In response to Orban's visit, the European Union (EU) has moved the informal foreign and defense ministers' meeting, which was planned to be held in Hungary on August 28-30, to Brussels.

In a statement, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell stated that Hungary's actions must have consequences, saying, "We must send a signal, even if it is symbolic." Stating that 25 out of 26 member countries supported the decision to move the meetings from Hungary to Brussels, Borrell said, "I think it is appropriate to request that the next foreign and defense ministers' meetings be held in Brussels."

In the 27-member EU, only Slovakia out of the 26 countries supported Hungary.

Hungary, which took over the "EU presidency" on July 1, was supposed to host the meetings to be held next month.

ORBAN'S CONTROVERSIAL 'PEACE MISSION'

Hungarian Prime Minister Orban launched a peace mission for Ukraine after his country took over the EU Council Presidency as of July 1, meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on July 2, Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on July 5, and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on July 8.

EU leaders had announced that Orban did not receive authorization from Brussels for his Moscow visit and that he did not represent the EU.

News Source: İHA