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German Foreign Office sees “great damage” caused by Hungary

by AI | 15.Jul 2024 | Europe in brief AI

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping shortly after the start of the Hungarian EU presidency. He sees himself on a peace mission. The Foreign Office speaks of a “great damage to reputation.”

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Photo: Miguel Medina/AFP

Berlin – The German Foreign Office has once again sharply criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban for his trips to Moscow and Beijing, which he declared to be a “peace mission.” “These are Hungarian unilateral actions that we are watching with great astonishment and skepticism,” a spokesman said at the federal press conference in Berlin. Orban speaks only for himself on these trips – and not for the European Union, where Hungary currently holds the rotating Council Presidency.

Regarding possible consequences, the spokesman said: “We have to see how the Hungarian Council Presidency continues. We are now on day 12. And it has already caused great damage.” Deputy government spokesman Wolfgang Büchner emphasized that as Prime Minister, Orban could travel wherever he wants. That is not important. “What is not acceptable is that he travels around giving the impression that he is doing this on behalf of someone. And that will certainly continue to be discussed, how to handle this.”

Before the NATO summit in Washington, Orban had first met with Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin in Moscow and then with China’s President and Party leader Xi Jinping in Beijing. Both visits were about possibilities for a peaceful solution in Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. (July 12)