Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met today with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, where he reiterated his call for the Russian leader and U.S. President Donald Trump to meet in Budapest.
“We are aware of your balanced stance on the Ukrainian issue,” Putin told Orban at the beginning of their conversation, according to the Kremlin. He thanked the Hungarian prime minister for the invitation, saying that Trump had recently suggested a meeting as well.
“Trump immediately said: ‘We have good relations with Hungary, you have good relations with Viktor, and I have them as well, so I propose this option.’ Naturally, we gladly agreed,” Putin said.
The U.S. president canceled a previously scheduled meeting in Budapest a few weeks ago, claiming it would be a waste of time because there was no room for progress in talks about ending the war.
The Kremlin announced that U.S. officials will meet with the Russian side next week in Moscow, according to the DPA news agency.
On Friday, Orban said that Hungary, as a neighbor of Ukraine, hopes the talks will succeed due to the severe economic consequences of the war.
“We firmly hope that the proposals on the table will lead to a ceasefire and peace,” he said.
The Hungarian prime minister quickly supported the U.S. proposal for a 28-point peace plan introduced last week, which some politicians consider too accommodating to Moscow.
The proposals have since been revised in U.S. negotiations with Europeans and Ukrainians.
Orban previously claimed that the European Union “sabotaged” Trump’s original plan because it wants to prolong the war in Ukraine.
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Orban: Hungary needs Russian energy
Before flying to Moscow, Orban noted that the U.S. president had granted Hungary an exemption from American sanctions imposed on the Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil.
“We managed to achieve that, which is great. Now we only need gas and oil, and we can buy them from Russia. That’s why I’m traveling there, to ensure that Hungary’s energy supply is secured for the winter and next year, at an affordable price,” he emphasized.
During the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in the Kremlin today, the possibility was discussed that Hungary could purchase a share of Russian oil companies affected by recently imposed U.S. sanctions, said Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak.
At a press conference, Novak stated that these discussions should not be exposed to media attention, Sputnik reports.
“In principle, such a topic exists and was discussed. Hungary has been our reliable partner in energy for years. Hungarian partners are currently working in that direction, and much depends on business negotiations. Therefore, this process should proceed quietly, without media attention,” Novak said, responding to a question from Russian media about whether the topic of Hungary potentially purchasing shares of Russian oil companies was discussed in today’s negotiations.
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Source: Kurir / RTS, Foto: Alexander Nemenov / Pool AFP