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Hungarian PM Orban's July 5 Moscow Visit Sparks EU, NATO Outrage Over Ceasefire Talks

Jul 5, 2024, 05:06 PM

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Moscow on July 5, 2024, on a self-styled 'peace mission' to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The visit has sparked significant controversy and rebuke from European Union leaders, who argue that Orban does not have a mandate to represent the EU. During the meeting, Putin and Orban discussed the conflict in Ukraine, with Orban calling for a ceasefire to create conditions for negotiations. Putin, however, rejected the idea of a negotiated ceasefire, expressing his commitment to a 'final' end to the war that would achieve his goal of destroying Ukrainian statehood. Orban's visit follows his recent trip to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Hungarian leader's actions have been criticized by both the EU and Kyiv, with concerns that his visit undermines EU and NATO unity.