Italy says Hungarian premier free to choose his visits, but should not weaken EU, NATO unity

ROME

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Wednesday said Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is free to make the trips he desires, but should not undermine the unity of EU and NATO.

“When Orban undertakes these trips without a mandate from the EU, he represents Hungary, not the EU. The Hungarian prime minister is free to choose the visits he deems appropriate, but he should ensure not to weaken the unity representing the strength of the West, Europe, and NATO,” Tajani told Italian press in Washington DC, where he is attending a NATO summit.

Hungary assumed the rotating presidency of the European Union this month, and Orban has since embarked on a "peace mission" to Ukraine, Russia, and China. In Kyiv, he said a cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine could speed up negotiations to end the war that started in February 2022.

Stressing the importance of the summit in reaffirming unequivocal support for Ukraine, Tajani said: “This summit is an opportunity to reiterate our support for Ukraine without 'buts' or 'howevers'."

Commenting on Ukraine’s NATO membership, the Italian diplomat highlighted that Kyiv is progressing in that direction and it could happen after the war.

He said NATO and Italy are not at war with Russia, affirming that the weapons provided to Ukraine cannot be used on Russian territory. But, at the same time, he reiterated Rome’s commitment to defend Ukraine's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Tajani also reaffirmed that Italy is an integral part of NATO, and that it is progressing towards meeting the 2% defense spending target.

He said the G7 foreign ministers, under Italy's presidency, would meet on the margins of the NATO summit, expressing hope for positive outcomes in discussions on Gaza and emphasizing the need for progress towards a two-state solution to the Palestine-Israel conflict.