Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban scheduled a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, just days after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding a potential peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia.
In Beijing, Orban and Xi convened at the Diaoyutai State Guest House, as reported by Chinese state media.
China has promoted a six-point peace plan with Brazil since May, while Orban has launched a “peace mission” since taking over the EU’s rotating presidency this month.
After meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv and visiting the Kremlin, the Hungarian leader’s visit elicited a stern rebuke from his allies.
“China is a key power in creating the conditions for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war,” Orban stated on the X platform.
Orban is the EU leader with the warmest relations with Xi and Putin, and he is a critic of Western military aid to Ukraine.
His trip to China comes days before a NATO summit on supporting Ukraine, and after the European Commission announced last week that it will impose 37.6% tariffs on Chinese electric vehicle imports.
Hungary is a significant trade and investment partner for China, whereas other EU countries are trying to reduce their dependence on China.
