FT: Orban to visit Moscow on Friday, wants to "mediate between Russia and Ukraine"
The European Union has expressed concern about this visit
The British newspaper Financial Times confirms earlier reports that on Friday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban intends to visit Moscow and meet with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
The newspaper writes that such a visit is indeed planned, citing one Hungarian and two European officials.
Earlier, the visit was reported by Radio Free Europe and Hungarian journalist Szabolcs Pany.
According to the publication, Orban intends to mediate between Ukraine and Russia. "I think his strategy is to listen to both sides," one source told the Financial Times.
Orban visited Kyiv this week. It was his first trip to the Ukrainian capital since 2012.
During the trip, he reportedly suggested that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy consider a ceasefire to speed up peace talks with Russia. The Ukrainian authorities responded that any ceasefire could harm Ukraine, as it would allow Russia to accumulate forces and resources for a further offensive.
The FT recalls that after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Orban met with Putin twice.
As reported, the head of the European Council, Charles Michel, said that Hungary does not have the authority to negotiate with Russia on behalf of the EU.
"The rotating presidency of the EU Council does not give the authority to engage in dialogue with Russia on behalf of the EU," he wrote on Twitter (X).
He reminded that the EU Council of Ministers has a clear position on Russian aggression against Ukraine: "Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussion about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine".
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on his account in X: "Surely the rumours about your visit to Moscow, Viktor Orban, cannot be true? Or can they?"
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