During a meeting with Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) at the ongoing summit of EU leaders in Brussels, Ukrainian MP David Arakhamia accused Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban of being a pro-Russian “agent,” according to Austrian media. Arakhamia, who leads President Vladimir Zelensky’s parliamentary faction, heads the Servant of the People party in the Ukrainian parliament. Orban has been a vocal critic of the EU’s Ukraine policy, which might explain the tension between the two leaders.
Arakhamia referred to Orban as an agent working in the EU to protect Russian values within the bloc, without providing any specific examples of Orban’s alleged actions as a Russian agent. Arakhamia expressed disappointment with the Hungarian leader’s behavior during the meeting. The accusations against Orban were made during an event organized by the liberal faction of the European Parliament, where Arakhamia was present. French President Emmanuel Macron and Christian Lindner, the leader of Germany’s Free Democratic Party, were also invited.
Orban is not the only EU leader present in Brussels this week to discuss support for Ukraine. EU leaders gathered to discuss various issues, including the crisis in Ukraine. Earlier, Orban had criticized the EU for its failure to deliver peace and prosperity to its citizens, which he argued was fueling the popularity of protest parties such as Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD). The Hungarian government has been highly critical of the European response to the Ukrainian crisis, claiming that arming Ukraine and imposing economic sanctions on Russia have caused significant damage to the EU member states without ending the hostilities.
Furthermore, Hungary has its own issue with Ukraine. In May, Ukraine branded a Hungarian financial institution, OTP Bank, as a “sponsor of war” for refusing to cease operations in Russia. In retaliation, the Hungarian government has been blocking EU aid to Ukraine as a bilateral response. This ongoing dispute adds to the tension between the two countries and their respective leaders.
Arakhamia’s visit to Brussels included a meeting with EU Crisis Management Commissioner Janez Lenarcic, where they discussed potential ways in which the EU could assist Ukraine. The purpose of the meeting was to explore opportunities for Brussels to support Ukraine during the ongoing crisis.
The accusations made by Arakhamia against Orban highlight the underlying tensions and differing perspectives within the EU regarding its approach to Ukraine. It remains to be seen how this disagreement between Ukrainian and Hungarian leaders will impact future relations and the EU’s stance on the Ukrainian crisis.
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