Viktor Orban, the Prime Minister of Hungary, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on July 13, 2023, to discuss energy and security issues.
The meeting came just days after Orban met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk, where the two leaders signed an agreement to strengthen economic and political ties between their countries.
Orban and Putin have met on several occasions in the past, and they have developed a close relationship. Orban has been a vocal supporter of Putin’s policies, and he has often criticized the West’s sanctions on Russia. In 2017, Orban was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky, one of Russia’s highest honors, by Putin.
The meeting between Orban and Putin took place at the Kremlin, and it lasted for about two hours. The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including energy security, defense cooperation, and the situation in Ukraine. Orban also expressed his support for Putin’s proposal to create a new security architecture for Europe.
The meeting was seen as a sign of Hungary’s growing closeness to Russia. Orban has been criticized by some in the West for his close ties to Putin, but he has defended his relationship with the Russian leader, saying that it is in Hungary’s best interests to maintain good relations with Russia.
The meeting between Orban and Putin also raised concerns about Hungary’s commitment to NATO and the European Union. Orban has been a vocal critic of the EU, and he has threatened to withdraw Hungary from the bloc. Hungary is also a member of NATO, but Orban has said that he believes NATO is no longer relevant to Hungary’s security.
The meeting between Orban and Putin is likely to have a significant impact on the future of Hungary’s relations with Russia, the EU, and NATO. It remains to be seen how Orban’s close ties to Putin will affect Hungary’s position in the world.
- The two leaders discussed energy security, defense cooperation, and the situation in Ukraine.
- Orban expressed his support for Putin’s proposal to create a new security architecture for Europe.
- The meeting was seen as a sign of Hungary’s growing closeness to Russia.
- The meeting raised concerns about Hungary’s commitment to NATO and the European Union.
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E. Thompson
