Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán made headlines on Tuesday as he became the first European leader to visit Russia and hold talks with President Vladimir Putin since Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s visit to Moscow in April 2022.
Orbán’s visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between Russia and the West, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and accusations of Russian meddling in European elections. The Hungarian leader’s decision to engage in dialogue with Putin has raised eyebrows in some quarters, with critics expressing concern over Orbán’s close ties to the Russian president.
During their meeting, Orbán and Putin reportedly discussed a range of issues, including energy cooperation, security matters, and the situation in Ukraine. The two leaders also reportedly discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties between Hungary and Russia, with Orbán expressing his desire to expand economic cooperation between the two countries.
Orbán’s visit to Moscow comes as Hungary seeks to diversify its energy sources and reduce its dependence on Russian natural gas. The Hungarian leader has been vocal in his support for the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite opposition from some EU countries and the United States.
Overall, Orbán’s visit to Russia marks a significant moment in European politics, as it underscores the complex relationship between the EU and Russia. As tensions between Moscow and the West continue to simmer, Orbán’s decision to engage with Putin signals a willingness to pursue a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, even if it means bucking the trend of EU unity on Russia. It remains to be seen how Orbán’s visit will impact Hungary’s relationships with its European partners in the coming months.
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