EU chief diplomat Borrell issues statement on Hungarian PM's visit to Moscow

EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell has said that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's visit to Moscow is not part of Hungary's presidency of the EU Council, so it will be considered solely within the framework of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia.

Hungary holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December.

"That does not entail any external representation of the Union which is responsibility of the President of the European Council at the Head of State or Government level and of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy at Ministerial level," Borrel said.

Borrell stressed that Orbán had not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow. 

"The EU position on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is reflected in many European Council conclusions. That position excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin. The Hungarian Prime Minister is thus not representing the EU in any form," Borrell said.

He also reiterated that the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin’s role in the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.

The day before, media sources reported that Viktor Orbán was going to visit Moscow just a few days after his visit to Kyiv. The Hungarian government has not yet officially confirmed this information.

The head of the European Council, Charles Michel, stated that Hungary had no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU. 

Orbán also acknowledged that the EU Council presidency did not give Hungary a mandate to promote peace in Ukraine, but said that Budapest could be "a good tool in the hands of people who want peace."