Orbán's Diplomatic Shuffle: Hungary's PM Strikes a Pose in Beijing After Moscow and Kyiv

BEIJING (AP) — Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán landed in China on Monday, July 8, 2024, in a surprise visit following diplomatic stops in Russia and Ukraine, aimed at brokering peace in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

Orbán dubbed his visit "Peace mission 3.0" in a post on the X social media platform, sharing a photo of himself disembarking his plane in Beijing. He was greeted by Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hua Chunying and other officials before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

This visit to China caps off a whirlwind diplomatic tour that saw Orbán advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine during stops in Moscow and Kyiv last week. His proposal was met with criticism from Ukrainian and European leaders. Despite this, Orbán remains steadfast, positioning Hungary as one of the few European nations maintaining dialogue with both sides.

“The number of countries that can talk to both warring sides is diminishing,” Orbán remarked. “Hungary is slowly becoming the only country in Europe that can speak to everyone.”

Hungary's role is further highlighted by its assumption of the rotating presidency of the European Union at the beginning of July. Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested Orbán's Moscow visit was in a capacity as a top European Council representative. However, European officials were quick to clarify that Orbán's mandate was limited to bilateral discussions.

Known for his cordial relations with Putin, Orbán has consistently obstructed or weakened EU initiatives to support Kyiv and sanction Moscow. His calls for ending hostilities have been criticized for their ambiguity regarding Ukraine's territorial integrity and future security.

Orbán's stance has exasperated Hungary’s EU and NATO allies, who view Russia's actions as blatant violations of international law and threats to Eastern European security. As Orbán continues his diplomatic manoeuvres, the international community remains watchful to see if his efforts will bring any meaningful progress towards peace in Ukraine.