Orbán's Moscow trip breaches EU treaties, legal service affirms

Viktor Orbán's diplomatic initiative with Vladimir Putin during his recent solo trip to Moscow has sparked controversy for allegedly breaching EU treaties.

The Hungarian Prime Minister's unannounced visit aimed at promoting peace talks with Ukraine received sharp criticism from EU and NATO allies, who asserted that Orbán did not represent their interests in his discussions with the Russian President.

The EU's legal service informed member states that Orbán's actions violated treaties prohibiting measures that could jeopardize the Union's objectives, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

These treaties also mandate that all member states conduct foreign policy activities "unreservedly in a spirit of loyalty and mutual solidarity."

"This was a political mistake to go to Moscow," remarked European Council President Charles Michel, representing the EU's 27 members. "In 10 years, I have never seen such a severe reaction from 26 other countries to the actions of [one country] . . . a yellow card."

Orbán's visit occurred shortly after Hungary assumed the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council of ministers, which allows members of his government to chair meetings. Some capitals accused Orbán of exploiting this position to lend greater weight to his meeting with Putin, despite Russia being under EU sanctions and the EU's stance condemning Moscow as the aggressor in the Ukraine conflict.

Despite Orbán's endorsement of immediate peace talks, contrary to EU and NATO policy that requires Ukraine's involvement in any such discussions, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed NATO's solidarity, emphasizing that "the military alliance is not going anywhere, Ukraine’s not going anywhere, the European Union is not going anywhere."

Michel condemned Russia's recent missile strike on a children's hospital in Kyiv as a "war crime," attributing it to Putin's response to Orbán's peace mission. Discussions among EU leaders are ongoing to determine how to proceed in response to Orbán's actions, with considerations including potential measures to limit his influence during Hungary's presidency and calls for revising EU decision-making processes on foreign policy issues.