---
title: "Charles Michel Warns Orbán: Hungary Lacks Mandate for Peace Missions"
url: https://radiomoldova.md/p/37334/charles-michel-warns-orbán-hungary-lacks-mandate-for-peace-missions
published: 2024-07-17T08:28:44Z
language: en
author: "Viorica Rusica"
section: "International"
source: radiomoldova.md
---

# Charles Michel Warns Orbán: Hungary Lacks Mandate for Peace Missions

> In a letter addressed to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, warned him about the self-declared "peace missions" in Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing, and Washington.

In a letter addressed to Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, warned him about the self-declared *"peace missions"* in Kyiv, Moscow, Beijing, and Washington.

![](https://storage.radiomoldova.md/images/c4690a15-9700-4e60-8a0a-244731932be1.jpg)

In a communication seen by POLITICO, Michel stated, *"The rotating presidency of the Council, held by Hungary starting July 1, has no authority to represent the Union on the international stage and has not received a mandate from the European Council to act on behalf of the Union."*

Michel added, *"I emphasised this even before your visit to Moscow, and this was reiterated by High Representative Josep Borrell in his statement on July 5."*

Michel responded to a note from Orbán, which contained conclusions and suggestions based on his *“peace missions,”* including a visit to Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago. Dated July 12, the note warned that with a *“high probability”* of a Trump victory, *“the EU’s share of the financial burden of supporting Ukraine will increase significantly, to the EU's disadvantage.”*

Citing his discussions with Trump, Orbán argued in his note that he could *“state with certainty that immediately after his electoral victory, Trump will not wait until the inauguration but will be ready to act as a mediator for peace immediately. He has detailed and well-founded plans for this.”*

However, it is noted that no details about these plans were provided.

In turn, Michel replied that the EU has a *“firm commitment to support Ukraine and its people as long as necessary and as intensely as necessary”* and rejected Orbán’s claim that the EU has a *“pro-war policy.”*

*“Russia is the aggressor, and Ukraine is the victim, exercising its legitimate right to self-defence,”* Michel wrote.

Michel’s letter comes amid a counteroffensive against how Hungary is managing the Council's presidency.

On Tuesday, several countries refused to send high-ranking ministers to a meeting organised by Hungary for energy officials in Budapest, with at least four stating they did so in protest.

Translation by **Iurie Tataru**