Orbán urges EU to renew Russia talks, criticises Biden's Ukraine stance

The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, who, as part of a self-proclaimed "peace mission," visited Russia and China, among others, has suggested in a letter to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, that the EU should resume diplomatic relations with Russia. Orbán also accuses U.S. President Joe Biden of adopting a "pro-war policy" concerning Ukraine.

Hungary assumed the six-month presidency of the EU Council on 1 July. The following day, Orbán made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, and three days later to Moscow. Subsequently, continuing his self-proclaimed “peace mission” concerning the war between Russia and Ukraine, he went to Beijing and, from there, to the USA, where he met with Donald Trump at the NATO summit.

"Below is a summary of my recent talks with the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, China, and Turkey, as well as with former President of the USA Donald J. Trump, along with several suggestions for consideration," Orbán writes in the introduction to the letter, which was accessed by the German newspaper "Bild".

Regarding the war in Ukraine, the Hungarian politician writes that "the intensity of the armed conflict will radically increase in the near future."

The head of the Hungarian government calls for talks with China on organising a conference regarding peace in Ukraine, for the EU to resume diplomatic relations with Russia, and for the launch of a "political offensive" toward countries in the Global South. Orbán assessed that recognition from these countries "was lost because of our stance on the war in Ukraine."

Then Orbán writes about the talks with Trump, a candidate in the November presidential elections in the USA. He criticised the current leader of that country, Joe Biden. "He is making enormous efforts to stay in the (election) race. He cannot change the current pro-war policy of the USA, and hence it cannot be expected that he will start pursuing a new policy," Orbán assesses in the letter to the President of the European Council.

Orbán also praises Trump. "I can (...) say for sure that immediately after winning the election, he will not wait until the inauguration (of his presidency), but he will be ready to act immediately as a peace mediator. He has detailed and justified plans for this," emphasises the Hungarian Prime Minister.

However, he warns that Trump’s electoral victory would be costly for the EU. "I am more than convinced that regarding financial support for Ukraine, in the event of the likely victory of President Trump, the financial burdens of the USA and the EU will shift significantly to the detriment of the EU," Orbán writes.