The European Union has stripped Hungary of the right to host the next meeting of foreign and defence ministers over its stance on the war in Ukraine.

It comes weeks after Hungary assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union, a role in which it would normally host the event, and amid anger over a meeting Prime Minister Viktor Orban held with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow earlier this month.

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said Hungary’s actions should have consequences and that “we have to send a signal, even if it is a symbolic signal”.

Hungary described the move as “completely childish”.