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EU rules out official communication with Russian president, top diplomat says

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell

05 July 2024 14:18 (UTC +04:00)

The European Union prohibits talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin in any official capacity, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said in a statement, APA reports.

According to him, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has no right to represent the EU in a potential visit to Moscow even though Budapest currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU.

"Prime Minister Orban has not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow," Borrell pointed out. He stressed that the EU’s position on Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine "excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin." "Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to Moscow takes place, exclusively, in the framework of the bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia," the top EU diplomat said.

Borrell emphasized that the fact that Hungary currently holds the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU does not entitle it to represent the union on the international stage, a responsibility he himself shares with the outgoing European Council President Charles Michel. Notably, Borrell will be succeeded by Kaja Kallas in October, while Michel will be replaced by Antonio Costa in December.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said earlier that he was not representing Brussels but acting on his own behalf in communication with Moscow and Kyiv. However, he neither confirmed nor denied reports that he was planning to visit Moscow soon.