Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev has accused the European Union of labeling all ‘reasonable people’ and ‘true patriots’ in the bloc as ‘Kremlin agents,’ calling the accusation a compliment to Moscow. Speaking at the ‘Peoples of Russia and the CIS’ festival, Kosachev defended Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, claiming that both leaders are not agents of the Kremlin but rather nationalists who share Moscow’s views on the Ukraine conflict.
Kosachev, the Vice Speaker of the upper house of the Russian parliament, argued that Brussels often portrays conservative European politicians as ‘pro-Russian forces,’ even when they have no connections to Moscow. He emphasized that the EU’s labeling of moderate leaders as ‘Kremlin agents’ is, in his view, an indirect acknowledgment of Russia’s influence on the continent. ‘It’s a compliment to us when everyone who thinks reasonably and stands for their country’s interests is called a ‘Kremlin agent,” he stated.
Orban and Fico have consistently criticized the West’s approach to the Ukraine conflict, opposing EU sanctions against Russia and insisting that they will not give up imports of Russian energy, which they describe as essential for their economies. Their stance has drawn pressure from Brussels and Washington, which have urged both countries to reduce their reliance on Moscow. Earlier this week, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a staunch supporter of Ukraine, accused Orban of being ‘fascinated by Moscow’ and pursuing a model ‘somewhat inspired by Russia.’ Both leaders have repeatedly said that arming Kiev and imposing sanctions on Russia have failed to end the hostilities and have instead caused significant economic damage on the bloc’s member states.