Orban urges EU to restore Russia ties, criticizes Biden’s stance

The Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orban, who visited Russia and China as part of a self-proclaimed "peace mission," suggested in a letter to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, that the EU should resume diplomatic relations with Russia. Orban also accused U.S. President Joe Biden of a "pro-war policy" concerning Ukraine.

Hungary assumed the six-month presidency of the EU Council on July 1. The following day, Orban made an unannounced visit to Kyiv and, three days later, to Moscow. Subsequently, continuing the self-proclaimed “peace mission” concerning the war between Russia and Ukraine, he went to Beijing and from there to the USA, where he met with Donald Trump on the occasion of the NATO summit.

"Below is a summary of my recent talks with the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, China, Turkey, and the (former) President of the USA, Donald J. Trump, as well as several suggestions for consideration," Orban writes in the introduction to the letter, which was accessed by the German "Bild".

Regarding the war in Ukraine, the Hungarian politician writes that "the intensity of the armed conflict will radically increase in the near future."

The head of the Hungarian government calls for talks with China on organizing a conference regarding peace in Ukraine, for the EU to resume diplomatic relations with Russia, and for the launch of a "political offensive" toward the Global South countries. Orban assessed that recognition from these countries "was lost because of our stance on the war in Ukraine."

Then Orban writes about his talks with Trump, a candidate in the November presidential elections in the USA. He criticized the current leader of that country, Joe Biden. "He is making enormous efforts to stay in the election race. He cannot change the current pro-war policy of the USA, and hence it cannot be expected that he will start pursuing a new policy," Orban assesses in the letter to the President of the European Council.

Orban also praises Trump. "I can (...) say for sure that immediately after winning the election, he will not wait until the inauguration of his presidency, but he will be ready to act immediately as a peace mediator. He has detailed and justified plans for this," emphasizes the Hungarian Prime Minister.

However, he warns that Trump’s electoral victory would be costly for the EU. "I am more than convinced that regarding financial support for Ukraine, in the event of the likely victory of President Trump, the financial burdens of the USA and the EU will shift significantly to the detriment of the EU," Orban writes.