Hungary PM Orbán says peace his mission in controversial Moscow visit

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Friday, holding two-and-a-half hours of talks amid strong criticism of the surprise visit from top EU officials and European leaders.

Several EU officials stressed that the Hungarian leader had no official EU mandate for negotiations with Russia, and that it had nothing to do with Hungary assuming the six-month rotating presidency of the European Union.

The right-wing populist leader, often a thorn in the side of Brussels over a range of issues, is seen as closest to Moscow among European Union leaders.

During a joint appearance with Putin after the talks, Orbán once again called for efforts to find a peaceful solution to the Ukraine war.

According to an official Russian translation, Orbán said that Europe has been living in the shadow of the war in Ukraine for more than two years. "Europe needs peace," he said.

Peace must be worked for by all sides, Orbán said. But the positions of Moscow and Kiev are very far apart, he said, noting: "A great many steps must be taken to move closer to ending the war."

Establishing contact was key, he said, adding: "I will continue to work in this direction."

Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said many issues had been discussed in what he said was a very good atmosphere - above all Ukraine.

Putin recently made a proposal for ending the war against Ukraine, although he made it conditional on Ukraine agreeing to territorial concessions in advance - a condition Kiev has totally rejected.

Putin said after the meeting on Friday that he wanted to inform Orbán about the details of his idea for ending the war, and repeatedly praised the Hungarian premier for the stances he had taken.

Orbán maintaining ties with Kremlin

Despite the Russian invasion, Orbán continues to maintain good relations with the Kremlin leader, and Hungary is still supplied with gas by Russia.

He visited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev earlier this week for the first time since the start of the war. According to Russian officials, Orbán had no message from Zelensky for Putin.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Orbán had travelled to Russia on his own initiative, and likewise Ushakov said that Orbán had been received as Hungary's head of government and not as an EU representative.

Putin, on the other hand, explicitly referred to Hungary's role holding the EU presidency when welcoming Orbán.

EU officials fuming at Orbán trip

Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell said earlier on Friday that Orbán does not represent the European Union "in any form."

Orbán's "visit to Moscow takes place, exclusively, in the framework of the bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia," Borrell said.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on X that "appeasement will not stop Putin.

"Only unity and determination will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine," she wrote.

Eric Mamer, von der Leyen's chief spokesman told reporters that Orbán's trip "undermines the unity and determination" the European Union needs to end the war in Ukraine.

The designated EU foreign affairs representative, Kaja Kallas, wrote on X that "Viktor Orbán in no way represents the EU or the EU's positions."

"He is exploiting the EU presidency position to sow confusion," Kallas added, stressing that the EU is "united, clearly behind Ukraine and against Russian aggression."

Frustration in Washington, too

The White House said it was "concerned" about Orbán's trip.

The behaviour of the Hungarian leader is "counterproductive" in terms of supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and does not contribute to peace in the country invaded by Russia, said US President Joe Biden's spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre.

"Russia could end this war today by stopping their aggression against Ukraine, against their sovereignty, against their democracy. They can withdraw. They can withdraw right now," she said.