EU nations stand against Russia at UN, Hungary abstains
Hungary is the only European Union country that has not signed a statement condemning Russia in the UN Security Council, according to a list of signatories posted on Facebook by Ukraine's Permanent Representative to the UN Serhiy Kyslytsya on July 16.
A statement signed by over 50 countries criticizes Russia for its “brutal aggression against Ukraine” and accuses it of “hypocrisy” for convening a UN Security Council meeting on Multilateral Cooperation for a More Equitable, Democratic and Sustainable World Order.
The statement emphasized that the meeting should not distract the international community from Russia's violations of the UN Charter and its abuse of the Security Council. It also condemned North Korea and Iran for their military support to Moscow, urging UN member states to end their support for Russia's military efforts.
Earlier on the same day, members of the European Parliament called for Hungary to be deprived of its voting rights in the EU following Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visits to Russia and China. While Hungary cannot legally be stripped of its EU Council presidency, the EU could choose to boycott Orban's policies, according to Vice President of the European Commission Věra Jourová.
Orban’s recent visits to Moscow and Beijing were also discussed during the latest meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on July 15. This follows Orbán’s call to the European Union to restore diplomatic relations with Russia in a letter addressed to European Council President Charles Michel.
Viktor Orban's "peace" tour
Orbán arrived in Kyiv on July 2 for his first visit to Ukraine since the war with Russia outbreak. He met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and proposed a ceasefire to expedite negotiations with Russia. Ukraine's peace initiatives "take a lot of time" and therefore he asked Zelenskyy to consider "an alternative approach: first ceasefire, then negotiate peace," he claimed.
"Hungary is not the first country to talk about such a scenario," President's Office representative Ihor Zhovkva said in response to this. Zhovkva made it clear that Zelenskyy actually rejected such proposals: he listened to Orban, "but in response he stated his position, which is clear and known to everyone."
Orbán made an unannounced visit to Moscow on July 5.
Russia insists on the Ukrainian Armed Forces withdrawal from Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson oblasts, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with Orbán.
Hungary, which has held the European Council rotating presidency since July 1, does not have a mandate to negotiate on behalf of the EU with Russia, the EU Council President, Charles Michel, said.
Orbán met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Washington on July 10, seeking support for his "peace mission."
Orban met with the US presidential candidate from the Republican Party, Donald Trump, on July 12, and they discussed ways to establish peace.
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