Hungarian leaders hold talks with Russia’s Putin in Beijing
In Beijing, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Vladimir Putin in a bilateral discussion, according to the Hungarian spokesman. Orban emphasized that Hungary has not sought confrontation with Russia and aims to cultivate closer ties instead. He noted that ongoing dialogue is essential amid broader international tensions and highlighted efforts to preserve bilateral contacts.
Hungarian-Russian cooperation
The Prime Minister’s press spokesman, Bertalan Havasi, stated that the talks covered several topics, including Hungary-Russia cooperation in energy supply chains, specifically gas and oil, as well as nuclear energy. Orban underscored the need to address continental challenges, including refugee flows, sanctions, and the ongoing conflict, during the discussions with Putin.
Orban also commented that, given current geopolitical constraints, maintaining and developing relations with many European partners is still possible, and Hungary views such ties as important. Putin echoed the sentiment that Hungary remains an important partner, with dialogue continuing despite broader tensions.
Hungary’s position at the Belt and Road Forum
Orban was the only EU leader attending the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing who chose to meet Putin, who is facing international legal scrutiny in The Hague over alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Hungary regularly engages with officials from Russia and Belarus, and in recent days the Hungarian Foreign Minister, Peter Szijjarto, traveled to Moscow for energy discussions a fifth time since the Ukraine invasion began. Szijjarto also met Lavrov again during the UN General Assembly in New York, encouraging Western counterparts to consider similar engagements.
The last meeting between Orban and Putin occurred on February 1, 2022, roughly three weeks before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Since the invasion began, neither Orban nor Szijjarto have visited Kyiv. This evolving dynamic highlights Hungary’s careful balancing of regional partnerships while navigating Western sanctions and security concerns.
Source: Reuters (Source: Reuters). Hungary’s stance and ongoing diplomacy were summarized by media outlets as the international community weighed the implications of high-level talks during a time of geopolitical strain.
Source: wPolityce (Source: wPolityce).
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