EU Foreign and Defense Ministers' Meeting Relocated Amid Tensions with Hungary

The European Union has announced that its upcoming meetings of foreign and defense ministers, originally set for Budapest, will now take place in Brussels. This decision, revealed by the EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell, comes amid escalating tensions between the bloc and Hungary, particularly concerning Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's controversial remarks about the EU's stance on the war in Ukraine. Orbán has recently described the EU's policy as “pro-war,” prompting a strong response from Borrell, who emphasized the need for consequences for such statements. Borrell highlighted that nearly all EU member states, with one exception, have criticized Orbán's behavior. He reiterated that the EU's policy is not aligned with a pro-war agenda. This shift in the meeting's location follows a letter from European Council President Charles Michel, who firmly rejected Orbán's claims, asserting that Russia is the aggressor in the conflict and that Ukraine is exercising its right to self-defense under international law. Orbán's recent diplomatic efforts, including meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, have further strained relations with EU lawmakers. His attempts to position himself as a peacemaker are at odds with the EU's unified support for Ukraine against Russian aggression. In light of these developments, some EU leaders have called for Hungary's voting rights to be suspended, arguing that mere verbal condemnations are insufficient. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen criticized Orbán's visit to Moscow as an “appeasement mission,” while Orbán defended his actions as fulfilling a “Christian duty.” The ongoing discord highlights the deepening rift within the EU regarding its response to the Ukraine conflict.