2024 visits by Viktor Orbán to Russia and China

[2] This sequence of visits came about as Hungary assumed the six-month long rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July, where Orbán expressed his intention to leverage this position to undergo a "peace mission" to push for ending conflict in Ukraine.

Orbán's government is notable for regularly blocking and delayed the EU's efforts to grant financial and military aid to Ukraine and to imposing sanctions on Russia.

Putin also expressed gratitude to Orbán for attempting to restore diplomacy between Russia and Europe, and claimed that Kyiv remained unwilling to cease hostilities.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed appreciation for Hungary's consistent efforts to resolve the conflict and Orbán's initiative.

[12] Orbán posted a picture of him and Xi shaking hands, captioning it with a statement on how China along with the United States and the EU were critical to stopping the Russo-Ukrainian war.

[13] On July 11 Orban met former president and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago during which various topics where discussed including the Russian war in Ukraine.

[14][15][16] Previously Victor Orbán has announced clearly the Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg about their way to Moscow, however organizing of the trip were done in full secret.

Not late after Victor Orbán prim-minister has reported by official letter the president of European Council as of the leaders of EU members about the standpoints of the parties.

Borrell also cited Putin's International Criminal Court indictment and arrest warrant for enforcing policies of deporting Ukrainian children to Russia.

"[20] White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stated that the meeting would not help bring peace and was ultimately “counterproductive to promoting Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence”.

János Bóka, Hungarian European affairs minister, denounced the decision in a public statement stating that the commission could not "cherry pick institutions and member states it wants to cooperate with" and rhetorically asked if all decisions made by the European Commission were primarily based on "political concerns".

[22] Sweden and Finland also announced boycotts of its top officials from Hungary-hosted EU Council meetings, intending to send civil servants in their place.

[11] Orbán stated in an interview with Swiss news outlet Die Weltwoche that he was considering the possibility of setting up more uncoordinated meetings in the future to advance diplomacy in manners that don't necessarily align with EU strategies.

"[25] Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Péter Szijjártó released a video statement following Orbán's (5 July) Moscow visit stating that "The peace mission continues and even intensifies", while telling "European pro-war politicians" to "fasten their seatbelts".

[26] Hungary abruptly cancelled the visit between German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and Szijjártó on 6 July, two days before the planned meeting.