Putin's favorite European leader is being shunned and shammed by his peers

• The EU is boycotting a diplomatic meeting that was due to be hosted by Hungary.

• Josep Borrell, the EU's chief diplomat, moved the meeting to Brussels instead.

• Hungary's leader, Viktor Orbán, is notably warmer to Putin than many in Europe, leaving him isolated.

Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, is being condemned by the European Union because of his close ties to Russia.

Orbán was stripped of his right to host the EU's Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Budapest in August over his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The meeting, where EU foreign and defense ministers informally discuss international issues, is traditionally hosted by the rotating president of the EU Council, which for now is Hungary.

The EU's foreign-policy chief, Josep Borrell, announced on X that he would instead host "informal meetings" with foreign affairs and defense ministers in Brussels.

"At today's #FAC, EU Member States overwhelmingly criticized Hungary's lack of sincere and loyal cooperation," the post said.

Borrell's decision was made because Orbán's met with Putin in Moscow earlier in July, BBC News reported. Orbán is the only EU leader to have sustained a relationship with Putin after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Borrell said "we have to send a signal" against Hungary.

Orbán met with Putin days after a surprise visit to Ukraine at the beginning of July.

On the Ukrainian trip he encouraged President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to agree to a ceasefire even without Russia withdrawing its troops from Ukraine.

That position would be a considerable concession to Russia, which Ukraine has so far shown no signs of entertaining.

"A pause would play into [Russia's] hands. It might crush us afterward," Zelenskyy said in January of the idea of a ceasefire.

Writing on X, Orbán declared that his visits to Ukraine and Russia were part of a "peace mission."

Speaking to CNBC last week, Orbán criticized the EU for having a "pro-war policy," and said "there is no solution of this conflict on the battlefield."

Borrell appeared to address Orbán's comments at a press conference on Monday, saying: "If you want to talk about the 'war' party, talk about Putin. Not about the European Union. Putin is the 'pro war' party here."

"We want peace. No one more wants peace more than the Ukrainians themselves. But for a fair, lasting peace, it needs to preserve Ukraine's freedom and independence, and ensure accountability for the many war crimes that have been happening since the war started," he added.

Orbán's office did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider, but instead referred to an official statement that called the EU decision on the meeting "childish."

Borrell and the European Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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