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 criticized the EU for portraying conservative politicians as “pro-Russian forces” despite their lack of ties to Moscow. He argued that such accusations are unfounded, stating these leaders simply share Moscow’s perspective on reality. “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 highlighted Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico as examples of true patriots, rejecting claims they are “agents of the Kremlin.” Both leaders have opposed EU sanctions against Russia and resisted reducing reliance on Russian energy, drawing criticism from Brussels and Washington. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk recently accused Orban of being “fascinated by Moscow,” but Orban and Fico maintain that Western policies toward Ukraine have caused economic harm without ending the conflict.
