World
Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s Peace Mission to Moscow
Explore Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s diplomatic efforts as he embarks on a peace mission to Moscow, aiming to foster dialogue and cooperation between Hungary and Russia for regional stability.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary arrived in Moscow on Friday for a rare visit to Russia, becoming the first European Union leader to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin since the Ukraine invasion. This visit has caused discord within the European Union.
A spokesman for Mr. Orban, Zoltan Kovacs, stated that the Hungarian leader’s visit to Moscow is part of his “peace mission.” Mr. Orban’s meeting with President Putin will include discussions on Ukraine, among other topics.
Mr. Orban recently met with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine in Kyiv, aiming to facilitate peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. However, Ukrainian leaders have been hesitant to engage in talks with Russia, fearing that President Putin’s intentions may not align with peace efforts.
This visit marks the first official meeting between a European Union leader and President Putin since the start of the Ukraine invasion. The only other EU leader to visit Russia during this time was the Austrian chancellor, Karl Nehammer, in April 2022.
Mr. Orban’s meeting with President Putin in Moscow is a significant diplomatic event, as it signifies a potential shift in European-Russian relations. The last time the two leaders met was in October 2023 during an international summit in Beijing.