EU Boycotts Hungary Over Orbán's Diplomatic Outreach to Russia and China

The European Commission has decided to boycott Hungary's six-month presidency of the EU Council in response to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's controversial visits to Moscow and Beijing, which are seen as undermining the bloc's political unity. The Commission will only be represented at senior civil servant level during informal meetings, and the traditional visit of the College of Commissioners has been called off. This decision follows Orbán's meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which have drawn criticism for their timing and implications.