BEIJING: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is set to make an unexpected visit to China on Monday after similar visits to Russia and Ukraine with discussions on the possibilities for a peaceful agreement in Ukraine.
Orban called this “peace mission 3.0”, and posted this picture of himself stepping off his plane in Beijing on X social media platform early Monday. He was met by Hua Chunying, Vice-Chinese minister of foreign affairs and other Chinese officials.
China’s state broadcaster CCTV reported that Orban later had a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
This surprise trip follows similar ones made last week to Moscow and Kyiv where he suggested that Ukraine may want to consider entering into an immediate truce with Russia.
Moscow’s governing powers condemned his visit while European leaders criticized it too, especially Kyiv.
“The pool of countries able to talk with both sides of the conflict is getting smaller,” he said. “In Europe, Hungary is now probably the only country left whose leader can engage them all.”
Having assumed the presidency in July, Hungary was represented as a leading figure from the European Council by Putin when he came to Moscow. Some top European officials disagreed strongly, saying that Mr Orban didn’t have any mandate other than talking about bilateral relations.
Widely known for having warmest relationship toward Putin among EU leaders, Orbán has consistently blocked, delayed or watered down EU efforts aimed at assisting Kyiv or imposing sanctions on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine. He has long advocated for cessation of hostilities in Ukraine without ever detailing what that would mean for the country’s territorial integrity or future security.
This position has exasperated Hungary’s NATO allies who see Russia’s moves as violations of international law and threats against Eastern European nations’ safety.
