Viktor Orbán, the PM of Hungary, is in China for peace talks with Ukraine
Introduction
After comparable trips to Russia and Ukraine, Hungary’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, is paying an unexpected visit to China on Monday to talk about the chances of a peaceful resolution in Ukraine.
Orbán wrote “Peace mission 3.0” as the caption for a photo uploaded early on Monday on the social media platform X. The photo showed him standing outside his Beijing airport. Hua Chunying, the vice minister of foreign affairs of China, and other officials were greeting him.
Orbán’s Proposal
Later, Orbán had a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, as reported by state television network CCTV.
His previously unreported visit follows comparable trips to Moscow and Kyiv the previous week, during which he suggested that Ukraine think about accepting an instant cease-fire with Russia.
European leaders and Kyiv denounced his visit to Moscow. “There are fewer and fewer nations that are able to communicate with both sides of the conflict,” Orbán stated. “Hungary is gradually emerging as the sole nation in Europe capable of communicating with all people.”
Beginning in July, Hungary will hold the rotating EU presidency. According to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Orbán visited Moscow in his capacity as the European Council’s senior official. However, a number of high-ranking European officials rejected that offer, claiming that Orbán was only authorized to discuss bilateral relations.
Regarded by many as the EU leader with the closest ties to Putin, the prime minister of Hungary has frequently obstructed, postponed, or softened EU initiatives aimed at supporting Kyiv and applying penalties to Moscow for its actions in the country. He has long advocated for the end of hostilities in Ukraine, but he hasn’t explained what that would entail for the future security or territorial integrity of the nation.
EU and NATO’s Partner’s Concerns
Hungary’s partners in the EU and NATO, who view Russia’s actions as a violation of international law and a danger to the security of Eastern European nations, are irritated by this stance.