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Vladimir Putin and Viktor Orbán meet in Beijing.
The leaders of Russia and Hungary have discussed an expanded cooperation – among other things in the energy issue characterized by sanctions.
Putin and Orbán are both visiting China to attend a conference on China’s global infrastructure project “One Belt, One Road”, the so-called New Silk Road. In connection with that, they have held a bilateral meeting, which was not announced in advance.
In the picture, the President of Russia and the Prime Minister of Hungary shake hands.
Want to see a “peace”
The two have discussed, among other things, Russian-Hungarian cooperation on gas and oil transport and nuclear energy, according to reports on both the Hungarian and Russian sides.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, the EU, despite some Hungarian resistance, has imposed broad sanctions against the Russian energy sector.
According to an account from the Hungarian side, Viktor Orbán emphasized the “importance of peace” for the whole of Europe, Hungarian media reports. He is also said to have underlined that he wants to see an end to “refugee flows, sanctions and fights”.
Orbán has always opposed the military support for Ukraine, accused the other EU countries of “dragging out” the war and called on Ukraine to meet the invading and occupying power Russia in negotiations.
Putin: Intact ties
Putin and Orbán last met in early February 2022.
– Despite the fact that the opportunities to keep in touch and develop relations are very limited under the current geopolitical circumstances, it cannot but please that our ties to many European countries are maintained and strengthened, says Putin according to state media in Russia.
When the state-controlled media reproduces what Viktor Orbán said at the meeting, he is reported to have said that he “never wanted to confront Russia” and that he is “trying to save as much as possible” of the tapes.
Viktor Orbán has also met Chinese President Xi Jinping and announces that Hungary’s relations with China have reached “unprecedented heights”, according to Hungarian media.