Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, following a recent trip to Kyiv where he proposed a cease-fire to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Orbán, seen as Putin’s closest partner in the EU, has previously hindered EU efforts to assist Ukraine and impose sanctions on Russia for its war. The visit to Russia was described as a “peace mission,” with Putin open to discussing peace proposals for Ukraine. Orbán, who recently assumed the rotating presidency of the EU Council, aims to use his position to advocate for an end to the conflict in Ukraine. Despite criticism from the EU, Orbán’s visit to Moscow reflects bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia, not official EU policy. This meeting is one of the few by a European leader with Putin since the Ukrainian invasion, with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer being the only other leader to visit and raise concerns about alleged war crimes by Russian forces. EU officials emphasize that Orbán does not represent the EU in his visit and that the EU’s position on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine remains unchanged. Orbán’s discussions with Putin will focus on bilateral relations and the European crisis in Ukraine.
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