The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borell, has stripped Hungary’s right to host the upcoming meeting of foreign and defense ministers due to its position on the Ukraine conflict.
This decision comes shortly after Hungary began its term as the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, a role typically associated with hosting such events. The move also follows Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, which has sparked controversy.
Borrell stated that Hungary’s actions warranted repercussions and emphasized the need to send a “symbolic signal.”
Hungary has dismissed the decision as “completely childish.”
Every six months, under each new council presidency, the EU’s foreign and defense ministers convene for informal discussions on major global issues. The next meetings, scheduled for 28-30 August, were initially set to be held in Budapest but will now take place in Brussels, as announced by Borrell on Monday.
Citing comments made after the meeting with Mr Putin in which Mr Orban accused the EU of having a “pro-war policy”, Mr Borrell told reporters: “If you want to talk about the war party, talk about Putin.
“I can say that all member states – with one single exception – are very much critical about this behaviour.
“I think it was… appropriate to show this feeling and to call for the next foreign and defence council meetings in Brussels.”
Among the 26 other EU countries, only Slovakia has supported Hungary in the ongoing dispute.
Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel stated that he would still attend the meeting in Budapest, arguing that a boycott would be “nonsense.” Bettel believes that engaging with Hungary directly is more effective than ignoring the situation, as “ignoring or avoiding dialogue would be a mistake.”
Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski suggested relocating the August meeting to western Ukraine, but Budapest vetoed the proposal.
In reaction to Borrell’s decision, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto took to Facebook, commenting: “What a fantastic response they have come up with.”
“I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but it feels like being in a kindergarten.”
Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s meeting with Vladimir Putin was part of what he termed a “peace mission”—a diplomatic tour he embarked on shortly after Hungary assumed the Council of the European Union presidency.
The mission also included visits to leaders in Ukraine, China, and U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump.
This trip elicited strong criticism from across the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen labeled it as “nothing but an appeasement mission,” while Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo argued that Orban had “no mandate to negotiate or discuss on behalf of the EU.”
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned the trip as sending “the wrong signal to the outside world” and insulting the Ukrainian people’s fight for freedom.
This incident is one of several where Hungary has diverged from the broader EU stance on how to address Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
After his re-election in April 2022, just months following the invasion, Orban told supporters that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was one of the figures he would need to “battle” during his fourth term.
Additionally, Orban used Hungary’s veto power last year to delay a €50 billion (£42 billion) package of non-military aid to Ukraine.
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