The news
EU foreign and defence ministers will meet in Brussels (rather than Budapest) next month to discuss Hungary’s position on the war in Ukraine.
On July 1, Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union, meaning the country holds informal meetings with EU foreign and defense ministers to discuss the bloc’s biggest issues.
The next meetings are scheduled for August 28-30, but Hungary will not host, EU officials said.
The bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that “we have to send a signal, even if it is a symbolic signal.” The decision came after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this month to discuss Ukraine without EU blessing.
Budapest called the move “completely childishthe BBC reported.
Orbán remains Putin’s closest European ally. He has described the EU’s stance toward Ukraine as “pro-war” and has delayed attempts to obtain financing the defense of the country against Russia.
