cnn
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Hungary’s top minister Viktor Orbán has informed EU leaders that he is “ready to act as a peace broker” between Russia and Ukraine if Donald Trump is elected president, a move echoing the idea across the continent. Meanwhile, Trump will struggle to regain power in order to subordinate Kiev to Moscow.
Orban’s letter, addressed to EU Council President Charles Michel and sent to all EU leaders, was written in the wake of his controversial meetings with former President Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
“I (…) I can say with certainty that immediately after his election victory, he will not wait until his inauguration, (Trump) will be ready to immediately act as a peace broker. They have detailed and well-established plans for this,” Orbán wrote.
The authoritarian Hungarian prime minister wishes to position himself as a peacemaker in the war, although his stance contrasts with that of most EU leaders, who have pledged unequivocal support for Ukraine as it confronts Russia’s military Tries to move back.
In his letter to these leaders, Orbán noted that throughout the conferences there was a “common observation” that “the intensity of the military conflict” in Ukraine would radically increase in the near future.
Orbán, hinting at Trump’s plans to possibly support Ukraine again if elected, declared: “I am more and more convinced that in a possible outcome of President Trump’s victory, there will be a reduction in the financial burden between the US and the EU. The ratio will increase significantly.” “This change is detrimental to the EU when it comes to financial aid to Ukraine.”
Trump, who has a tendency to make sweeping pronouncements on foreign coverage, said in the final hour of CNN City Hall that, “If I’m president, I’ll solve that war in a day, 24 hours.”
In the last CNN debate of his life with President Joe Biden, Trump said Putin’s conditions for commitment — which include Ukraine ceding four areas that I have recently engaged with Russia on — “are not acceptable. ”
However the former president, who is scheduled to officially accept the Republican nomination at the party’s national convention, has also criticized US military support for Kiev.
Orban – Trump’s paranormal, longtime best friend in the EU – has undertaken what he previously referred to as his “peace mission”, meeting Putin in Moscow on July 5 and Xi in Beijing on July 8. Met with. They met later on Thursday. Trump at his residence Mar-a-Lago in Florida.
He also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev in early July, his first visit to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began.
In his letter, Orban called on EU leaders to struggle to find a “window of opportunity” to start a “new chapter” in EU policy, and urged them to “de-escalate tensions and/or reach a temporary ceasefire”. Urged to make efforts to create conditions for and/or begin peace talks” within the Russia-Ukraine war.
Hungary holds the EU presidency for life and issued a slogan – “Make Europe Great Again” – that mimics Trump’s 2016 election motto.
Although his visits with Putin, Xi and Trump have been long overdue, I am extremely angry with EU MPs, who described the EU’s stance on foreign coverage on Orbán as “misrepresenting” and “weak”. “Accused of doing.
In a letter to Orbán on Tuesday, EU Council President Charles Michel hit back at many of the concerns raised by the Hungarian prime minister.
“The most direct path to peace is for Russia to withdraw all its forces from Ukraine and respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity and the UN Charter,” Michel wrote in the letter.
Michel wrote that “No discussion about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine” and was adverse to Orbán’s declaration that the EU has led a “pro-war policy”, declaring that “this is exactly the opposite. ”
“Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine is the victim who is exercising its legitimate right of self-defense. Russia is waging a war of aggression in gross violation of international law, Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in accordance with the UN Charter,” Michel wrote.
“The EU’s position on Ukraine is agreed unanimously by the European Council, and was most recently reaffirmed in June,” Michel said.
The EU Council President additionally informed Orbán that Hungary, which holds the rotating presidency of the Council until the end of time, “has no role in representing (the EU) on the international stage and should not be elected to the European Council.” “No order has been received from our side to join.” Of the Union.”
“I made this clear before your visit to Moscow and it was later reiterated by High Representative Borrell in his statement of 5 July,” Michel wrote.
Michel noted in his letter that he would share it with alternative participants of the EU Council, and “will also inform Ukraine about this exchange.”
A separate letter signed by 63 EU MPs, addressed to the three EU chiefs, said Orbán had “caused significant damage” through his meetings.
“In his so-called peacekeeping mission, Prime Minister Orbán deliberately gave the impression that he was acting on behalf of the entire EU, when in fact he had no authority to represent the EU or any member state other than his own Not there.” The participants of the European Parliament were mentioned.
Lawmakers called the meetings particularly damaging considering that Hungary currently holds the presidency of the EU Council, adding that Orban was guilty of “abusing” the position he held in early July. Had accepted.
EU lawmakers completed their letter by calling on the bloc’s three leaders, Michel, Ursula von der Leyen and Roberta Metzola, to suspend Hungary’s voting rights within the EU Council, arguing that precedents to date proved It has been said that “mere verbal condemnation” of Hungary has no meaning. Effect.”