Comment: Grudges allowed, his comments were trashy.

Comment: Fico has a point when saying, "the right to a different opinion has ceased to exist in the EU." but is it possible that "the conflict in Ukraine that the EU and NATO have elevated, literally sanctifying the concept of a single correct opinion - namely that the war in Ukraine must continue at any cost to weaken the Russian Federation," was a trend that began earlier, but the conflict in Ukraine has more clearly shown the European Union to act as an instrument for a military alliance, and useful for the implementation of US foreign policy goals.

See also:

• Slovak PM points to Western-backed forces behind assassination attempt
• Flashback How Soros's network exerts full influence on Slovak politics
• Slovak premier reiterates intent to veto 'corrupt' Ukraine's NATO membership bid
• Slovak PM says 'death merchants & West using Ukraine in efforts to weaken Russia, until the last Ukrainian'

• Editorial from Hungary's Orbán: The point of NATO is peace, not endless war
• Orban's surprise visit to Moscow sparks fury in Brussels: Key takeaways from Hungarian PM's 'peace mission'
• Orban visits Moscow: I don't need a mandate to promote peace'

Comment: This also follows Georgia's new bill banning LGBT propaganda, and 'gender' surgery: Georgian parliament approves bill banning LGBT propaganda, gender 'reassignment' surgery

One would suppose that the US isn't giving up so easily and instead will be using the resources it had allocated for some other operation in/against Georgia.

Comment:

• Democrats looking to replace Biden after debate 'disaster' - Politico
• Trump gets big post-debate boost in new polls after Biden's dismal performance
• Undecided voters react to Biden's debate performance: 'I am absolutely voting for Donald Trump'

Comment: It may be that, as with other alliances, that NATO was set up by some in the hope of creating the conditions for peace, but that others were always intent on subverting it to achieve their own nefarious ends. Lest we forget that up until relatively recently Putin acknowledges that Russia was open to being a member, but he was, basically, rejected at every turn.

Comment: Despite Pope Francis denouncing a number of issues plaguing Western society, as well as the Catholic church itself, given that Viganò seems to have a rather upstanding track record of attempting to expose and fight corruption, this move doesn't reflect well on the Catholic church; even if by refusing to submit to Pope Francis, Viganò may have left them with few options.

For more background, see: Vatican charges Archbishop Viganò with 'crime of schism' - Viganò exposed abuse and fraud, condemned lockdowns

See also:

• Pope repeats 'gay slur' in closed-door meeting, states homosexual men should not enter seminary
• Vatican preparing 'guidelines' for 'apparitions', 'other supernatural phenomena'

Comment: The Philippines are being used by the US to antagonise China and to stoke more conflict in the region.

Comment:
1)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Orban's visit to Russia had nothing to do with the EU, and that the bloc's position on the conflict remains unchanged.

Only Scholz was cool headed enough to accept the explanation that Orban gave, that his trip had nothing to do with the EU, but used the opportunity to state what is also true, at least for now, that nothing will change.

2) From the same source, there were details about the response from Kiev.
5 Jul, 2024 13:35
Kiev outraged over Orban's visit to Moscow

[...]
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has complained on its official website that Orban's decision to travel to Moscow was "made by the Hungarian side without approval or coordination with Ukraine." It stressed that Kiev is against any negotiations regarding the conflict without its direct participation.

"We remind that the principle of 'no agreements on Ukraine without Ukraine' remains inviolable for our country and call on all states to strictly adhere to it," the ministry's statement read. Zelensky's 'peace formula' is "the only realistic way to restore a just peace," it added.
[...]

The comment from Kiev reminds of this article: Zelensky 'yelling at generals' - The Economist. But really, why would Orban need approval from Kiev? There are no negotiations, only consultations, and the presentations, once again, for all to hear of two very distant points of view.

Will Orban be welcome in Ukraine again? Perhaps it does not matter. His initiative is a gesture of good will on behalf of those people in Europe, and the world who do not need or wish for war, death, or the destruction of property and livelihoods. Orban is aware that many people in the EU are not heard or represented by the bureaucracy, see Brussels ignoring will of voters - Orban and Hungary's Orban says EU president Von der Leyen must go which compares with Italy's Meloni slams 'surreal' backroom deals for EU jobs

3) It is possible that Hungary had diplomatic encouragement to visit Kiev and Moscow
From this article Italy's PM Meloni slams 'very stupid' EU leaders, compares Ukraine to failed-state Libya, in hoax call with Russian pranksters we know that:

the Italian prime minister spoke of the fatigue being felt among the international community towards the unceasing situation in Ukraine, but said the issue was "finding a solution that is acceptable to both parties without violating international law."

"I have some ideas on how to handle this situation, but I'm waiting for the right time to try to present these ideas," she added.

Meloni admitted the ongoing counteroffensive by Kyiv was "perhaps not going as expected," had not "changed the fate of the conflict," and was leading to further issues for Europe "including immigration, inflation, and an increase in energy prices."

She compared the situation in Ukraine to the drawn-out conflict in Libya, telling the pranksters: "We could discuss for hours, my friend, what happened (in Libya). Maybe someone understands that the situation there is not better now."

Hungary has previously shown interest in the Chinese peace plan: EU nation backs Chinese peace plan (Feb 2023) The President, Xi Jinping visited Hungary in early May:

• China wants to preserve and strengthen its foothold in and around the EU and is investing diplomatic effort where it is worth it (May 2024)
• China hopes to divide the West, and it knows where the weakest link lies (May 2024)

4) After the latest visit to Moscow and Kiev, it is likely the Victor Orban will face some rebukes, questioning, and social distancing at prominent meetings, but then Hungary did also not participate in a meeting hosted by the US in 2021 during the COVID era when many meetings were held online.
China says US uses 'pseudo-democracy as a weapon of mass destruction' against other countries

Along with Russia and Hungary, China was not invited to be a part of the two-day virtual summit hosted by the US. China responded angrily to this and alleged Biden-led US of still following Cold War-era ideologies.

'pseudo-democracy as a weapon of mass destruction' - Victor Orban understands this concept and tries to reduce the fallout effect for the Hungarian people, see Hungary 'won't ride NATO war train' - Orban
but he can't do it unless he steps slightly out of the scripted role for heads of EU and NATO states.

Comment:

• UK prosecutors pressured Sweden not to drop Assange extradition in 2013
• UK prosecutors confess to destroying key emails in Julian Assange case
• Extradition confidentiality: UK tribunal refuses to release Assange files
• The UK's covert role in Julian Assange's detention

Comment: Associated Press illustrates the scale of Israel's pillage of Palestinian land. And this doesn't even include all the territory stolen to provide travel corridors between the illegal squatters' enclaves: