03:03European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer during a press conference in Brussels on Friday stated that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's sudden trip to Russia 'undermines the unity and determination' to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
He further added that the trip to Moscow 'is about appeasement, not about peace' which he claims 'plays rather into the hands of Vladimir Putin.'
"What we are talking about here is a trip that the Hungarian Prime Minister himself says he is undertaking on his own volition, from his own initiative that is not linked to a mandate from the European Union," the spokesperson continued. "Everybody here in the European Union wants peace. Let's be clear about that. We want a just peace for Ukraine."
When asked whether the prime minister broke EU rules, Mamer responded by stating: "It is not about punishment, it is about effectiveness. It is about making sure that we achieve our goal."
"As far as we are concerned, it is clear that such a trip puts into question, jeopardises ... our trip to Budapest after the summer break; a clear sign that there are some actions that we believe do not go in the right direction."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Orban's visit would not resolve the Ukrainian crisis, writing on X that unity and determination 'will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine' - adding 'appeasement will not stop Putin'.
Earlier on Tuesday, Orban visited Kiev and urged Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky to 'take a break', have a ceasefire and 'continue negotiations' - although admitted the response to his suggestion had been 'frank'.
Deputy Head of the Ukrainian presidential office Igor Zhovkva said that the ceasefire issue could not be 'considered in isolation' from other aspects of the conflict settlement.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR, claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
'Appeasement, not peace' - EC spox says Hungary's Orban trip to Russia 'undermines unity and determination' to end Ukraine conflict
European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer during a press conference in Brussels on Friday stated that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's sudden trip to Russia 'undermines the unity and determination' to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
He further added that the trip to Moscow 'is about appeasement, not about peace' which he claims 'plays rather into the hands of Vladimir Putin.'
"What we are talking about here is a trip that the Hungarian Prime Minister himself says he is undertaking on his own volition, from his own initiative that is not linked to a mandate from the European Union," the spokesperson continued. "Everybody here in the European Union wants peace. Let's be clear about that. We want a just peace for Ukraine."
When asked whether the prime minister broke EU rules, Mamer responded by stating: "It is not about punishment, it is about effectiveness. It is about making sure that we achieve our goal."
"As far as we are concerned, it is clear that such a trip puts into question, jeopardises ... our trip to Budapest after the summer break; a clear sign that there are some actions that we believe do not go in the right direction."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Orban's visit would not resolve the Ukrainian crisis, writing on X that unity and determination 'will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine' - adding 'appeasement will not stop Putin'.
Earlier on Tuesday, Orban visited Kiev and urged Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky to 'take a break', have a ceasefire and 'continue negotiations' - although admitted the response to his suggestion had been 'frank'.
Deputy Head of the Ukrainian presidential office Igor Zhovkva said that the ceasefire issue could not be 'considered in isolation' from other aspects of the conflict settlement.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR, claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
European Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer during a press conference in Brussels on Friday stated that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's sudden trip to Russia 'undermines the unity and determination' to end the Ukraine-Russia conflict.
He further added that the trip to Moscow 'is about appeasement, not about peace' which he claims 'plays rather into the hands of Vladimir Putin.'
"What we are talking about here is a trip that the Hungarian Prime Minister himself says he is undertaking on his own volition, from his own initiative that is not linked to a mandate from the European Union," the spokesperson continued. "Everybody here in the European Union wants peace. Let's be clear about that. We want a just peace for Ukraine."
When asked whether the prime minister broke EU rules, Mamer responded by stating: "It is not about punishment, it is about effectiveness. It is about making sure that we achieve our goal."
"As far as we are concerned, it is clear that such a trip puts into question, jeopardises ... our trip to Budapest after the summer break; a clear sign that there are some actions that we believe do not go in the right direction."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Orban's visit would not resolve the Ukrainian crisis, writing on X that unity and determination 'will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine' - adding 'appeasement will not stop Putin'.
Earlier on Tuesday, Orban visited Kiev and urged Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky to 'take a break', have a ceasefire and 'continue negotiations' - although admitted the response to his suggestion had been 'frank'.
Deputy Head of the Ukrainian presidential office Igor Zhovkva said that the ceasefire issue could not be 'considered in isolation' from other aspects of the conflict settlement.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the DPR and LPR, claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.