BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — The European Union has decided to boycott informal meetings hosted by Hungary during its EU presidency after Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's controversial meetings with foreign leaders regarding Ukraine. The European Commission president and other top officials will not attend these meetings in Budapest due to recent developments at the start of Hungary's presidency.
Since taking over the rotating presidency on July 1, Orbán has engaged in discussions with leaders from Ukraine, Russia, Azerbaijan, China, and the United States as part of what he calls a 'peace mission' to end the conflict in Ukraine. However, his actions have upset EU leaders who were not informed in advance and clarified that Orbán was not representing the bloc during his meetings with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.
