The European Union has decided to relocate its upcoming meetings of foreign and defense ministers from Budapest to Brussels in response to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's controversial comments regarding the EU's stance on the war in Ukraine.
Orbán's assertion that the EU has a 'pro-war policy' has drawn criticism from EU leaders, prompting the bloc's top diplomat to take action. EU's chief diplomat, Borrell, emphasized that the EU's foreign policy is not pro-war and condemned Orbán's remarks, stating that 'the only one who is pro-war is Putin.'
The decision to move the meetings from Budapest, where Hungary currently holds the rotating EU presidency, to Brussels reflects the EU's disapproval of Orbán's statements and actions. European Council President Charles Michel also rebuked Orbán's claims, affirming that Russia is the aggressor in the conflict with Ukraine.
Orbán's recent diplomatic engagements with leaders such as Putin, Xi Jinping, and Donald Trump have further strained relations with EU lawmakers. While Orbán portrays himself as a peacemaker in the Ukraine conflict, his actions have been met with skepticism by most EU leaders who stand in solidarity with Ukraine.
A letter signed by over 63 European lawmakers called for Hungary's voting rights in the European Council to be suspended, citing the need for concrete actions rather than mere verbal condemnation. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized Orbán's visit to Moscow as an 'appeasement mission,' prompting Orbán to defend his actions as fulfilling his 'Christian duty.'
As tensions escalate between Hungary and the EU, the decision to relocate the EU meetings underscores the bloc's commitment to upholding its foreign policy principles and standing in solidarity with Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.
