On Tuesday, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Russian President Vladimir Putin in a display of Hungary-Russia solidarity amid security tensions in Europe over Moscow’s military aggression towards Kyiv. Orbán, whose country is a part of the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), went on to say that the American and EU sanctions on Russia pose a greater threat to Hungary as they deprive Budapest of some of its markets.
Speaking to reporters in a joint press conference, Orbán hailed his relationship with Putin highlighting how this is the 12th time in 13 years the two leaders have come together, a “very rare” thing according to Orbán. The Hungarian leader dubbed his visit to Russia as a “peace mission” saying that Tuesday’s talks with Putin assure him that Russia and NATO can overcome their differences over European security and eventually sign a peace agreement.
Orbán commended the Russian economy for withstanding waves of Western sanctions and added that “the policy of sanctions imposed on Russia has caused much more harm to Hungary than to Russia.” Moreover, Orbán called sanctions “a tool that is doomed to failure in international politics.” The United States (US) and EU have threatened to impose sanctions on Russia over the deployment of 100,000 troops along the Ukrainian border in preparation for a possible invasion.
Additionally, the Hungarian leader thanked Putin for providing 900,000 Hungarian citizens with the COVID-19 vaccine shots. He also highlighted that he viewed Russia as a solution to Hungary’s energy needs adding that Budapest strived for long-term gas contracts with Moscow. Orbán thanked Russia for investing in the Paks nuclear power plant project and noted that the project is making considerable progress.
Putin welcomed Orbán’s comments calling Hungary an important European partner for Russia particularly as bilateral trade between Budapest and Moscow went up by 30% in the last year, accounting for up to $5.5 billion. Putin also appreciated Orbán’s energy comments highlighting how Russia supplies 55% of Hungary’s oil needs and 80% of its gas needs.
Putin also confirmed that Hungary has extended gas contracts to 2036 that guarantee Hungarian consumers below market gas prices last year. Additionally, Putin affirmed Hungary’s role as an important gas transit partner to Russia that pointed out Budapest’s reliability in distributing Russian gas to Western Europe.
Orbán’s visit to Russia comes ahead of crucial parliamentary elections in Hungary set to be held in April this year. In early January, former US President Donald Trump endorsed the far-right Orbán’s fourth consecutive re-election bid, calling him a “strong” leader who “truly loves his country and wants safety for his people.” According to polls, Hungary’s upcoming election will be a close battle between Orbán’s Fidesz party and a coalition of six opposition parties led by Peter Marki-Zay. Hungary’s opposition alliance expressed their disapproval of Orbán’s meeting with Putin saying, “In this tense situation, it is treasonous to go to Moscow.”