06:01Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed the European Union is making a 'pariah' of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following his recent attempts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine while speaking in Moscow on Tuesday.
"Look how the EU is treating the Prime Minister of Hungary, the President of the European Union this half year, just for saying, we should all be in favour of finding compromises, not solving problems through war. And for that, they're trying to make him a pariah," the Russian diplomat said.
Lavrov also stressed that Russia is open to dialogue with Western countries.
"When and if our European colleagues come to their senses and realise that they are being used for the strengthening of the position of the United States at the expense of the weakening of the position of Europe, the doors will be open. The doors are open, but they will have to enter these processes on the basis of equality, on the basis of full respect for the interests of those who began to interact earlier," he added.
On Monday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell described statements made by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto as ‘unacceptable’ after the latter accused the bloc of ‘pushing for war’ in Ukraine.
On July 2, 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'.
A few days later, the country's leader arrived in Moscow to talk to Vladimir Putin. On 8 July, Orban flew to China to hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The politician stated on the social network X (formerly Twitter) that he had accomplished the tasks of 'establishing direct contacts, starting a dialogue on the fastest way to a peaceful settlement.'
On July 5, the European External Action Service - the bloc's diplomatic service - claimed Orban's trip to Moscow was taking place without a 'mandate'.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X that the visit would not resolve the Ukrainian crisis, adding that unity and determination 'will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine'. 'Appeasement will not stop Putin,' she concluded.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Orban had decided to travel to Moscow without agreement and co-ordination with Kiev. 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.
EU is trying to make Hungary's Orban 'pariah' - Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed the European Union is making a 'pariah' of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following his recent attempts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine while speaking in Moscow on Tuesday.
"Look how the EU is treating the Prime Minister of Hungary, the President of the European Union this half year, just for saying, we should all be in favour of finding compromises, not solving problems through war. And for that, they're trying to make him a pariah," the Russian diplomat said.
Lavrov also stressed that Russia is open to dialogue with Western countries.
"When and if our European colleagues come to their senses and realise that they are being used for the strengthening of the position of the United States at the expense of the weakening of the position of Europe, the doors will be open. The doors are open, but they will have to enter these processes on the basis of equality, on the basis of full respect for the interests of those who began to interact earlier," he added.
On Monday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell described statements made by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto as ‘unacceptable’ after the latter accused the bloc of ‘pushing for war’ in Ukraine.
On July 2, 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'.
A few days later, the country's leader arrived in Moscow to talk to Vladimir Putin. On 8 July, Orban flew to China to hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The politician stated on the social network X (formerly Twitter) that he had accomplished the tasks of 'establishing direct contacts, starting a dialogue on the fastest way to a peaceful settlement.'
On July 5, the European External Action Service - the bloc's diplomatic service - claimed Orban's trip to Moscow was taking place without a 'mandate'.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X that the visit would not resolve the Ukrainian crisis, adding that unity and determination 'will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine'. 'Appeasement will not stop Putin,' she concluded.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Orban had decided to travel to Moscow without agreement and co-ordination with Kiev. 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.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed the European Union is making a 'pariah' of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban following his recent attempts to achieve a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine while speaking in Moscow on Tuesday.
"Look how the EU is treating the Prime Minister of Hungary, the President of the European Union this half year, just for saying, we should all be in favour of finding compromises, not solving problems through war. And for that, they're trying to make him a pariah," the Russian diplomat said.
Lavrov also stressed that Russia is open to dialogue with Western countries.
"When and if our European colleagues come to their senses and realise that they are being used for the strengthening of the position of the United States at the expense of the weakening of the position of Europe, the doors will be open. The doors are open, but they will have to enter these processes on the basis of equality, on the basis of full respect for the interests of those who began to interact earlier," he added.
On Monday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell described statements made by Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto as ‘unacceptable’ after the latter accused the bloc of ‘pushing for war’ in Ukraine.
On July 2, 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'.
A few days later, the country's leader arrived in Moscow to talk to Vladimir Putin. On 8 July, Orban flew to China to hold a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The politician stated on the social network X (formerly Twitter) that he had accomplished the tasks of 'establishing direct contacts, starting a dialogue on the fastest way to a peaceful settlement.'
On July 5, the European External Action Service - the bloc's diplomatic service - claimed Orban's trip to Moscow was taking place without a 'mandate'.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X that the visit would not resolve the Ukrainian crisis, adding that unity and determination 'will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine'. 'Appeasement will not stop Putin,' she concluded.
According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Orban had decided to travel to Moscow without agreement and co-ordination with Kiev. 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.