BRUSSELS. July 5 (Interfax) - No matter the information accompanying Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Moscow, the visit does not lead to peace, while unity of the European Union plays a key role in settling the Ukraine conflict, European Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said.
"Only unity and determination will pave the path to a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in Ukraine," Mamer cited European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's response to the visit.
Mamer said that Orban did not coordinate his visit with the EU institutions.
There is a process "managed at EU level" and aimed at peace in Ukraine, and unity plays a key role in this context, Mamer said. "It is by following that process that we have the best chances of reaching this just and lasting peace and not by individual initiatives," he said.
The uncoordinated visit may call into question the traditional European Commission visit to Hungary at the beginning of the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union planned after the summer vacation season, Mamer said, adding that would show Budapest that something went wrong.
As to whether the EU may apply legal sanctions to Hungary, Mamer said this is not on the table: this is about efficiency and achievement of the goal, rather than penalty.
As reported, Orban came to Moscow on Friday and is meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said that the Council of the European Union did not authorize Orban to visit Moscow and that the visit could be viewed exclusively as part of bilateral relations between Russia and Hungary.
President of the European Union Charles Michel said on the X social network on Thursday that Hungary, which currently presides at the Council of the European Union, has no right to interact with Russia on behalf of the European Union.