Orbán's Mediation Efforts Criticized by EU, US

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in a self-styled 'peace mission' aimed at mediating the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This visit, which follows Orban's recent trip to Kyiv to discuss a ceasefire with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has drawn criticism from fellow EU leaders who assert that Orban has no mandate to represent the EU. The White House and EU officials have expressed concerns that Orban's actions could undermine Ukraine's sovereignty and the EU's unified stance against Russian aggression. Orban's Moscow visit comes shortly after Hungary assumed the EU's rotating presidency, a position with no official negotiating powers. Despite these diplomatic tensions, Putin expressed readiness to discuss the 'nuances' of the conflict with Orban.