Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow. Hungarian Prime Minister's Press Office / AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow. Hungarian Prime Minister's Press Office / AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow. Hungarian Prime Minister's Press Office / AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow. Hungarian Prime Minister's Press Office / AFP

EU and US slam Hungary's Orban for holding talks with Putin


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

The EU, US and Ukraine criticised Hungarian leader Viktor Orban for visiting Russia on Friday and holding talks with President Vladimir Putin.

Mr Putin hosted Mr Orban for talks at the Kremlin, which were described by the Russian President as a “really useful, frank conversation” on the conflict in Ukraine.

Hungary has adopted the friendliest posture in the EU towards Moscow amid the war.

The surprise trip was blasted by a string of EU officials, who said it threatened to undermine the 27-member bloc's stance on the conflict. They stressed that Mr Orban did not represent Brussels.

The pair “talked about the possible ways of resolving” the Ukraine conflict, Mr Putin said in remarks after a bilateral meeting.

The Russian leader repeated his demand that Ukraine withdraw all its troops from regions that Moscow has annexed and said Kyiv was “not ready to drop the idea of waging war until a victorious end”.

Mr Putin said at the start of the talks that he wanted to “discuss the nuances that have developed” over the conflict in Ukraine with Mr Orban, who also visited Kyiv earlier this week.

Mr Orban in turn said he had realised “positions are far apart” between the two sides.

“The number of steps needed to end the war and bring about peace is many,” he said.

Ukraine-Russia conflict latest – in pictures

The visit came days after Hungary took over the EU's rotating presidency. Mr Putin told Mr Orban he expected him to outline “the position of European partners” on Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government slammed the meeting, stressing it had no hand in its planning.

“The decision to make this trip was made by the Hungarian side without any agreement or co-ordination with Ukraine,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

EU leaders lashed out at Mr Orban over the trip.

“Appeasement will not stop Putin,” European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen wrote on X.

“Only unity and determination will pave the path to a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement that Mr Orban's “visit to Moscow takes place, exclusively, in the framework of the bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia”.

“Orban has not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow,” he added.

The EU has firmly opposed Russia's military offensive in Ukraine, imposing 14 rounds of unprecedented sanctions on Moscow.

“That position excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin. The Hungarian Prime Minister is thus not representing the EU in any form,” Mr Borrell said.

“It is worth recalling that President Putin has been indicted by the International Criminal Court and an arrest warrant released for his role in relation to the forced deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.”

EU Council chief Charles Michel had earlier reiterated the common stance that “no discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine”.

The US also criticised the trip as “counterproductive”, while Nato, of which Hungary is a member, distanced itself.

Mr Orban's visit “will not advance the cause of peace and is counterproductive to promoting Ukraine's sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence”, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said.

Nato head Jens Stoltenberg said Mr Orban had informed the alliance of his trip but stressed the Hungarian leader was “not representing Nato at these meetings. He's representing his own country”.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state TV the visit had been Mr Orban's idea and Russian officials only heard about the trip on Wednesday – a day after the Hungarian leader had visited Kyiv.

Weapons wanted by Ukraine – in pictures

Hungary's six-month EU presidency gives the central European country sway over the bloc's agenda and priorities for the next six months.

Mr Orban on Friday insisted that peace in Ukraine cannot be achieved without dialogue.

“If we just sit in Brussels, we won't be able to get any closer to peace. Action must be taken,” Mr Orban said during an interview on Hungarian state radio, when asked about his visit to Ukraine.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed disbelief at Mr Orban's Moscow trip, while Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo called it “disturbing news”.

The visit is the first to Moscow by a European leader since a trip by Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in April 2022.

Mr Orban and Mr Putin last met in October 2023 in Beijing, where they discussed energy co-operation.

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Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

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Game 2: Red Sox 4, Dodgers 2
Game 3: Saturday (UAE)

* if needed

Game 4: Sunday
Game 5: Monday
Game 6: Wednesday
Game 7: Thursday

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Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

Walls

Louis Tomlinson

3 out of 5 stars

(Syco Music/Arista Records)

Marathon results

Men:

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2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50 

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3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30 

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Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

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Label: Parlophone/Atlantic

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Rating: 3/5

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Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

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The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000

Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000

Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000

Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent

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When: Friday, 11pm (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports

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Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment

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1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

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Director: Shazia Iqbal

Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri 

Rating: 1/5

If you go

The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road. 

The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
 

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Syria v Australia
2018 World Cup qualifying: Asia fourth round play-off first leg
Venue: Hang Jebat Stadium (Malacca, Malayisa)
Kick-off: Thursday, 4.30pm (UAE)
Watch: beIN Sports HD

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Date Started: May 2015

Founders: Rami Shaar and Jad Halaoui

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Laundry

Employees: 170

Funding: about $8m

Funders: Addventure, B&Y Partners, Clara Ventures, Cedar Mundi Partners, Henkel Ventures

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Mica

Director: Ismael Ferroukhi

Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani

3 stars

if you go

The flights
Emirates flies to Delhi with fares starting from around Dh760 return, while Etihad fares cost about Dh783 return. From Delhi, there are connecting flights to Lucknow. 
Where to stay
It is advisable to stay in Lucknow and make a day trip to Kannauj. A stay at the Lebua Lucknow hotel, a traditional Lucknowi mansion, is recommended. Prices start from Dh300 per night (excluding taxes). 

Results

6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 Group 1 (PA) US$100,000 (Dirt) 2,000m, Winner Bandar, Fernando Jara (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer).

7.05pm Meydan Classic Listed (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,600m, ​​​​​​​Winner Well Of Wisdom, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

7.40pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m, ​​​​​​​Winner Star Safari, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.

8.15pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner Moqarrar, Fabrice Veron, Erwan Charpy.

8.50pm Nad Al Sheba Trophy Group 2 (TB) $300,000 (T) 2,810m, Winner Secret Advisor, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.

9.25pm Curlin Stakes Listed (TB) $175,000 (D) 2,000m, ​​​​​​​Winner Parsimony, William Buick, Doug O’Neill.

10pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 2,000m, Winner Simsir, Ronan Whelan, Michael Halford.

10.35pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 1,400m, ​​​​​​​Winner Velorum, Mickael Barzalona, Charlie Appleby.

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.

Gothia Cup 2025

4,872 matches 

1,942 teams

116 pitches

76 nations

26 UAE teams

15 Lebanese teams

2 Kuwaiti teams

'The Sky is Everywhere'

Director:Josephine Decker

Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon

Rating:2/5

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

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Updated: July 05, 2024, 8:13 PM`