Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow just days before a planned discussion between Russia and the U.S. regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Orban is regarded as a significant ally of Putin in Europe and has faced criticism from NATO and EU members for his stance on Russian aggression.
During their meeting, Putin acknowledged Orban’s balanced viewpoint on the situation in Ukraine and expressed gratitude for Orban’s suggestion of Budapest as a potential location for a Russia-U.S. summit. This proposal had been considered last month but was reportedly postponed due to Russia’s unwillingness to modify its demands for ending the war.
Orban’s political party, Fidesz, is approaching parliamentary elections in April, and current polls indicate that it may face its first electoral defeat in 15 years. Hosting a summit featuring both Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump could potentially enhance Orban’s re-election prospects.
Orban has openly opposed EU measures to halt Russian energy imports and described his recent visit as part of a strategy to secure Russian energy resources for Hungary and neighboring countries during the winter. Earlier this month, he obtained an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian fuel, conditional on his continuation in office.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Orban has maintained a narrative of peace, recently criticizing EU leadership for their approach to the conflict. He has also pressed for direct peace negotiations between the EU and Russia and has opposed additional EU funding for Ukraine.
Orban’s focus appears to be on energy relations with Russia, as he indicated that without these diplomatic efforts, heating prices could escalate significantly. Hungary is currently reliant on Russia for over 80% of its oil and gas and all of its nuclear fuel, contributing to a substantial financial flow to the Russian economy.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c058lny3pdqo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss