EU's Borrell condemns Hungary's decision to support China and Brazil's Ukraine peace initiative

He said this during a conversation at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York on September 27, Voice of America reports.

Asked whether the EU would continue to support Ukraine if U.S. aid were to be cut off, Borrell expressed confidence that there would be a strong political commitment in Europe to support Ukraine.

However, he noted that he was beginning to see some signs of weakening unity among European countries.

Josep Borrell noted that there are certain EU member states—though perhaps only one, and not among the most powerful—that have begun to contemplate capitulation when discussing peace. While the term "capitulation" is not explicitly used, their approaches are essentially equivalent. He also mentioned, for the first time, that an EU member state is participating in a meeting convened by China and Brazil to discuss peace based on a different approach than President Zelenskyy's plan.

Borrell called this case unique and expressed confidence that such sentiments “will not lead to a pandemic among member states.”

What is known about the China-Brazil “peace plan”

In late May, China and Brazil outlined a common position on a political settlement of the “crisis in Ukraine” and supported the holding of a peace summit with equal participation of all parties.

On August 28, Li Hui, the Chinese government's special representative for Eurasian affairs, called on more countries to endorse its “peace plan” for Ukraine.

Later, Ukraine's Ambassador to Brazil, Andriy Melnyk, stated that Ukraine had not received any warning from Brazil regarding its intention to present a peace plan with China aimed at ending the Russian-Ukrainian war.

Brazilian President Lula da Silva emphasized that it is important for his country to remain distant from the war in Ukraine, stating that Brazil will maintain a neutral stance regarding the “conflict.” However, during the opening session of the UN General Assembly on September 24, da Silva advocated for the Sino-Brazilian “peace plan” among the participating countries.

On September 26, it was reported that the Ukrainian government had circulated a letter among diplomats urging them not to support China's “peace plan.”

Subsequently, it was revealed that China is looking to establish a Friends of Peace platform with other “like-minded countries” to address the “Ukrainian crisis.” Concurrently, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjártó announced that Budapest would join the initiative.