The Prime Minister of Hungary visits Putin in challenge to the European position by pressuring Russia
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, in a move that contradicts the broad European consensus that calls for more pressure on Moscow, by imposing sanctions and isolating it, with the aim of ending the war in Ukraine.
This visit comes at a time when the Europeans are working to persuade the administration of US President Donald Trump to negotiate a peace settlement that guarantees Kiev’s sovereignty after the leak of a controversial plan last week, which was jointly drafted by Russian and American diplomats, according to what was reported by the “Euronews” network. European.
The plan proposed major concessions from Ukraine regarding its territory and army, while Ukrainian and European leaders were completely excluded from the negotiations. The plan has since been amended after talks with the Ukrainian government, but it has not been finalized..
Orban is one of the few European leaders who still maintains diplomatic relations with Russia, and the Prime Minister of Hungary insists that Ukraine cannot win the war militarily, and accused European leaders of “wanting war, not peace.” Orban also ignored directives from European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who demanded that he not hold bilateral meetings with the Russians.
In a statement from Serbia, where he met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Orban confirmed that the focus of his visit to Russia would be to focus on energy.
Hungary had obtained an exemption from US sanctions affecting Russian oil companies earlier this month, and is now in the process of securing contracts with Russian oil and gas suppliers, despite the European Union’s call on its member states to diversify energy sources..
Orban said in this context: “I must ensure that we get oil and gas, not just paper and permits.” I will negotiate for this, and I hope to succeed".
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