STRASBOURG: EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday attacked a rogue diplomatic visit made by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Russia to discuss means for ending the conflict in Ukraine as an “appeasement mission”.
The EU chief told the EU Parliament in a loud rebuke for PM Orban, whose nation also holds the rotating EU presidency, that this so-called peace mission was nothing but an appeasement mission.
“Moscow is banking on Europe and the Western nations going soft, and some in the West are playing along,” said von der Leyen, who was courting votes in the parliament for a second term.
She stated that PM Orban, whom she labeled as only “a European PM”, conducted his July 5 visit to see Russian leader Vladimir Putin just two days before Russian missiles blew up a children’s hospital in Ukraine. She said that the attack was a mistake but it was a message, a chilling message from the Russia to all of them.
PM Orban’s Moscow visit ignited deep anger across the European Union, with many leaders and officials saying it was in no mean mandated by Brussels.
The solo diplomatic step also heightened EU tensions over Hungary, which has already had bloc funds frozen because of alleged lapsing on rule-of-law and democratic principles. The EU chief this week ordered top European Union officials to stay away from a series of engagements with Hungary was to host as part of its EU presidency, and to send lower-ranking officials only.
In the parliament today, the EU chief also dismissed PM Orban’s stated aim to explore means to peace for Kyiv with President Putin, with whom he maintains close relations.
She said that no one wishes peace more than the people of Ukraine, a lasting peace for a free and independent nations and Europe will stand with Kyiv for as long as it takes.
