Today’s news / Denmark rejects minister visits to Hungary
During the first days of the Hungarian presidency, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, seen on the left, visited Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, who is standing on the right. (Archive photo). Photo: Vivien Cher Benko/Ritzau Scanpix

Denmark rejects minister visits to Hungary

The Danish government will not send ministers to informal meetings in Hungary following Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Instead, Denmark will be represented by officials. Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen informed the Danish Parliament’s European Affairs Committee, emphasizing the need to distance from Hungary’s handling of Ukraine during its EU presidency. The EU Commission also stated that EU commissioners will not participate in Hungary’s informal council meetings until the end of the year, suggesting Orbán should not be on a so-called peace mission while representing the EU. Other EU member states criticized Hungary for using the presidency to legitimize Putin’s war in Ukraine. Sweden echoed Denmark’s stance last week, with Swedish EU Minister Jessika Roswall condemning Hungary’s actions as detrimental and warranting consequences. Hungary, holding the rotating EU presidency since July 1st, arranged Orbán’s Moskva visit without consulting other EU members.