Sound slap for Viktor Orban! EU punishes Hungarian PM for his visits to Moscow and Beijing

European Union foreign ministers intend to boycott the meeting of foreign affairs summit in Budapest in August, holding their own "formal“ summit at the same time, Politico reports.

The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU plans to hold a summit on foreign affairs in Budapest on August 28-29.

But after Prime Minister Viktor Orbán blocked aid to Ukraine and held meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, many foreign ministers are looking for a way to avoid what they see as "another Orban propaganda show”.

The High Representative of the EU for foreign policy, Josep Borrell, will convene the ministers for an "official" foreign affairs council at the same time as Orbán's summit, three EU diplomats say.

"If the official foreign affairs council organized by the High Representative [Borrell] takes place on the same day, ministers will not be able to travel to Budapest,” says one diplomat.

Another added that by boycotting the Budapest meeting, other foreign ministers wanted to "send a clear signal that Hungary does not speak for the EU”.

According to Politico, the plan has already been informally discussed with several EU countries, including France and Germany. Borrell's team will present the plan to the EU's 27 permanent representatives on Wednesday.