Charles Michel responds to Orbán’s letter, reminds him he is not authorized to negotiate on behalf of EU

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán recently wrote a private letter to EU leaders urging them to reopen diplomatic relations with Russia. Among other things, the letter argued that Donald Trump will initiate peace talks between Russia and Ukraine if he wins the US presidential election in November, and that the EU should therefore reopen direct diplomatic communication with Russia.

It is the reply to this letter that has now arrived from EU Council President Charles Michel, Népszava, which obtained the letter, has learned. In the letter, the Belgian politician writes that he cannot accept Orbán's claim that they are pursuing a pro-war policy, as they are doing the exact opposite. Michel also adds that it is impossible to talk about Ukraine without Ukraine, and that the EU has consistently sought to build broad support for a comprehensive and just peace, which is in line with the main principles and objectives of the Ukrainian formula for peace. To this end, the EU has sought to reach out to all its partners, including China. Michel reminds that the EU's position on Ukraine was reaffirmed in June.

In addition, Michel warned the Hungarian Prime Minister that the rotating Presidency (currently held by Hungary) has no role in the EU's official representation on the international stage, nor has Orbán received a mandate from the European Council to act on behalf of the EU.

"I made this clear well before your visit to Moscow, and it was reiterated by High Representative Josep Borrell in his statement on 5 July," the politician wrote in his letter, according to Népszava, also stating that the most direct route to peace is for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.

Viktor Orbán visited four countries in the last two weeks, first meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyin Kyiv and then visiting Moscow, where he held talkswith Russian President Vladimir Putin. He then flew to Beijing, where he was received by Chinese President Xi Jinping. His next stop was the NATO summit in Washington, where he shook hands with Joe Biden, but held talks with former US president Donald Trump afterwards.

The Prime Minister's posts about his visits included the logo of the Hungarian EU presidency several times, and at the press conference held after their meeting in Moscow Vladimir Putin said that he believed Orbán was there on behalf of the EU Presidency, which the Hungarian Prime Minister did not dispute on the spot. This caused widespread outrage among European Union leaders. On Monday, the chief spokesman for the European Commission officially announced that the body would only be represented at a lower level at informal meetings organised by the Hungarian presidency, and that no commissioners would be travelling to Budapest either. Eric Mamer said this was due to the events surrounding the launch of the Hungarian Presidency.