Von der Leyen criticizes Orban for taking trip to Moscow
Date
7/21/2024 5:23:25 AM
(MENAFN) Ursula von der Leyen has sharply criticized Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's recent visit to Moscow, describing it as an “appeasement mission” rather than a genuine effort to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Addressing the European Parliament in advance of her reelection vote, the European Commission President highlighted Russia's ongoing offensive in Eastern Ukraine and suggested that the country is leveraging the West's perceived weakening resolve to pressure Ukraine. Von der Leyen pointedly remarked that Orban's solo diplomatic venture to Moscow only reinforced this belief.
Orban's trip to Moscow, part of what he described as a "peace mission," aimed to engage with key stakeholders—including Ukraine, Russia, China, the European Union, and the United States—in an effort to address the conflict. His meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin has been met with considerable backlash from both the European Union and NATO, where many officials view it as detrimental to Western unity against Russian actions. Von der Leyen criticized this initiative, arguing that it was merely a strategy to appease rather than address the conflict constructively.
Despite the criticism, Orban has defended his actions, insisting that his efforts are intended to assist Europe by facilitating dialogue between the conflicting parties. However, his peace mission has so far not led to any notable progress in the peace process, and the criticisms from various European and NATO officials continue to underscore the contentious nature of his approach.
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