Orbán visited Putin – promises continued oil purchases

TT

Updated 15.09 | Published 07.53

 

Viktor Orbán and Vladimir Putin during Friday’s meeting in Moscow. Photo: Alexander Nemenov/Pool Via AP/TT

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.

Putin praised Orbán’s “balanced position” on Ukraine, reports AFP. Orbán, for his part, announced that Russia will continue to be Hungary’s main energy supplier.

Thus, the Hungarians continue to oppose the EU on the issue of Russian oil and gas, which largely finances Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine.

– We have not given up cooperation (with Russia) in any area, regardless of all external pressure, Orbán told Putin.

When Orbán recently visited President Donald Trump in the United States, promises were made of exemptions from the sanctions now imposed on trade in Russian oil. However, no official decree on the exemption has been published.

Orbán is generally considered the most pro-Moscow leader in the EU, and Hungary is one of the few EU countries that has maintained friendly diplomatic relations with Russia. Orbán has consistently tried to put an end to both Ukraine support and sanctions against Russia, and also continues to import Russian gas and oil.

However, continuing trade without restrictions is causing outrage in the rest of the EU and parts of the world. Friday's meeting is being criticized by, among others, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“Orbán is traveling without a European mandate and without coordinating with us,” he emphasized during a press conference.

However, the EU as a whole has not yet completely phased out purchases of Russian fossil fuels. The goal is to do so within a year or so.