Instead of support, EU leaders have so far only managed to issue "not in our name"-type of statements regarding the Hungarian peace initiative.Continue reading
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock’s planned visit to Budapest on Monday has been canceled for “technical” and “non-political” reasons, the Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday, Világgazdaság reports.
According to the statement, Hungary requested the postponement of the visit due to unforeseen changes in the program of Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, but
it is hoped that the meeting can be rescheduled in the near future.
The reason for the postponement is purely technical and not political.
On Friday, the German Foreign Ministry expressed its indignation at the postponement of the meeting, saying that a “serious and honest discussion was needed after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday,” writes Reuters.
As Hungary Today reported earlier,
the Moscow meeting was the first time since April 2022 that an EU head of government had held talks with Vladimir Putin in the Russian capital.
This angered several EU politicians, who also pointed out that Viktor Orbán was not negotiating on behalf of the EU. Nevertheless, the logo of the Hungarian EU Council Presidency can be seen on most messages about the talks, be it in the Prime Minister’s posts on X or Facebook.
Peace mission. Second stop: Moscow. pic.twitter.com/pecdjg0HIT
— Orbán Viktor (@PM_ViktorOrban) July 6, 2024
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reacted on X to the Hungarian politician’s visit to the Russian capital. “Viktor Orbán is visiting Putin as Hungarian Prime Minister. In foreign policy, the European Council is represented by Charles Michel. The EU’s position is very clear: we condemn the Russian war of aggression. Ukraine can rely on our support,” he wrote.
Viktor #Orbán is visiting Putin as Hungarian Prime Minister. In foreign policy, the European Council is represented by Charles Michel.
The EU’s position is very clear: we condemn the Russian war of aggression. Ukraine can rely on our support.— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) July 5, 2024
In all probability, the aforementioned “technical” reason for the cancellation of the meeting was Minister Szijjártó’s visit to Beijing, where he accompanied Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. A counter question could be posed as to why the pre-planned meeting of foreign ministers was canceled instead of rescheduling the trip to China. The fact remains that the meeting will be rescheduled for an as-yet-unknown date.
Via Világgazdaság, Ungarn Heute; Featured image via Europäischer Rat