Different EU leaders have expressed concern over media experiences that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban could also be assembly Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday.
Mr Orban – whose nation now holds the EU rotating presidency – is the bloc’s solely head of nationwide authorities to have saved shut ties to the Kremlin following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
European Council President Charles Michel mentioned Mr Orban had “no mandate to interact with Russia on behalf of the EU”, whereas Polish PM Donald Tusk requested for clarification.
A number of media retailers reported about Mr Orban’s obvious forthcoming go to, quoting their sources.
The Monetary Instances mentioned one Hungarian and two EU officers had confirmed media experiences that Mr Orban would meet Russia’s president on Friday.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a US-government funded media organisation, quoted a Hungarian authorities supply. It additionally mentioned that Hungarian International Minister Peter Szijjarto would accompany Mr Orban.
Hungary and Russia didn’t instantly reply to BBC requests for remark.
On Monday, in accordance with AFP information company, Mr Orban promised “shocking information from shocking locations”.
In a put up on X, Mr Michel wrote: “The EU rotating presidency has no mandate to interact with Russia on behalf of the EU.
“The European Council is obvious: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the sufferer. No discussions about Ukraine can happen with out Ukraine.”
Mr Tusk requested: “The rumours about your go to to Moscow can’t be true@PM_ViktorOrban, or can they?”
Earlier this week, Mr Orban visited Kyiv, saying a “a fast ceasefire might be used to hurry up peace negotiations”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky – who has had frosty relations with Mr Orban – didn’t publicly reply to the proposal.
However many Ukrainians imagine any ceasefire would merely cement Russia’s maintain over territory it has seized from Ukraine and, if negotiations had been to happen, they would favor them to be performed from a place of power quite than on the again foot.
Media hypothesis about Mr Orban’s go to to Moscow got here as President Putin mentioned once more that he was open to negotiating with Kyiv.
The Kremlin chief not too long ago publicly voiced various robust pre-conditions for such talks however Kyiv and its Western allies say these are tantamount to Ukraine’s capitulation.
Mr Orban has been a vocal critic of Western assist for Ukraine. He beforehand slowed settlement on a €50bn ($54bn; £42bn) EU assist package deal designed to assist Ukraine in its defence towards Russia.
Tuesday’s go to to Kyiv was his first in 12 years, though he met Mr Putin repeatedly throughout that point.
Throughout Mr Orban’s joint look with Mr Zelensky the physique language between them was not heat, and neither took questions from the media after they gave their statements.
However for the following six months Mr Orban’s place as head of the European Council means he has an influential position as a figurehead for Europe.
He got here to Ukraine on his second day in that position for discussions, saying there was a necessity to resolve earlier disagreements and give attention to the longer term.