Hungary's "Peace Missions" Undermine EU Unity, Leading to Meeting Relocation

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's self-proclaimed "peace missions" to Moscow and Beijing have drawn criticism from EU partners, resulting in the decision to move an upcoming strategic EU meeting from Budapest to Brussels. Orbán's critics accuse him of undermining the EU's support for Ukraine and pursuing an appeasement strategy toward Russia.

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency, has embarked on a series of "peace mission" trips to Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, China, and the United States, aimed at brokering an end to the war in Ukraine. However, these actions have drawn criticism from EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, who announced that a strategic EU meeting will be held in Brussels instead of Budapest.

Orbán's critics accuse him of acting against the unity and interests of the EU and NATO, of which Hungary is a member, and of pursuing an appeasement strategy toward Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine. They believe that his "peace missions" undermine the EU's support for Kyiv and send a message of disagreement within the bloc.

Hungary's "Peace Missions" Undermine EU Unity, Leading to Meeting Relocation

In response to Orbán's actions, Borrell stated that a "signal" had to be sent. He explained that the decision to move the meeting was a symbolic gesture to demonstrate the EU's disapproval of Hungary's behavior.

Previously, Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó had criticized the idea of moving the meeting from Budapest to Brussels, calling it "fantastic revenge." He denounced the "hysterical" attacks on Orbán's meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping and highlighted that only Slovakia's deputy foreign minister had publicly supported Hungary's "peace mission."

Hungary's "Peace Missions" Undermine EU Unity, Leading to Meeting Relocation

Despite Orbán's attempts to portray himself as uniquely positioned to communicate with both Russia and Ukraine, EU leaders have made it clear that he does not represent their views. As a result, some EU nations and the European Commission have announced that their top officials will boycott informal EU meetings hosted by Hungary.

Borrell emphasized that while there was widespread condemnation of Hungary's recent behavior, EU member states were divided on whether to attend a meeting in Budapest. Ultimately, he asserted that it was within his power to make the decision to relocate the event.

Hungary's rotating presidency began on July 1, and Orbán has since visited several countries in his self-proclaimed "peace mission." However, his critics accuse him of acting against the interests of the EU and NATO, and of pursuing an appeasement strategy toward Russia.

The decision to move the strategic EU meeting away from Budapest is a significant development that reflects the growing divide within the bloc over how to deal with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It remains to be seen how Orbán's "peace mission" will ultimately play out and whether it will have any impact on the conflict in Ukraine.