Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing, marking a rare in-person meeting between Putin and a leader of a European Union (EU) country. The meeting took place before an international forum focused on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative, and the discussion centered around Hungary’s access to Russian energy. Due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, EU and other Western leaders have largely avoided contact with Putin, making Orbán’s meeting significant. Previously, Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer held an in-person meeting with Putin in April 2022.
Orbán emphasized Hungary’s desire to expand contacts with Russia and its reluctance to confront the country. He expressed that EU sanctions against Moscow have strained bilateral ties between Hungary and Russia. However, Hungary’s stance on the war in Ukraine has perplexed its European partners, leading to difficulties in providing financial and military aid to Kyiv. Orbán has refused to supply Ukraine with weapons and prevented their transfer across the Hungarian-Ukrainian border. He has also threatened to veto EU sanctions against Moscow, though he has ultimately voted in favor of them. Putin saw the meeting between Orbán and himself as a sign of weakening unity within the EU regarding support for Ukraine and condemnation of Russia.
Hungary has blocked an EU military aid package to Ukraine since May and will continue to do so until it receives concessions from Kyiv regarding a Hungarian bank’s association with the war. Orbán, a conservative populist leader, has criticized Western sanctions against Russia and emphasized Hungary’s dependency on Russian energy resources such as natural gas, oil, and nuclear fuel. While neighboring countries in Central and Eastern Europe have made efforts to reduce their reliance on Russian energy, Orbán has worked to maintain and increase supplies of Russian gas and oil, considering them crucial to Hungary’s economy. One example is the planned expansion of Hungary’s nuclear power plant, which will be financed with a 10-billion euro loan from a Russian state bank.
On his Facebook page, Orbán reiterated his call for a cease-fire and immediate peace talks in Ukraine. However, he has not clarified how such an arrangement would impact Ukraine’s territorial integrity or security. Putin’s trip to Beijing for the Belt and Road Forum also involved meetings with other leaders, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. Serbia’s increasing economic and political alignment with Russia and China, despite maintaining respect for Ukraine’s territorial integrity, raises concerns in Europe. Serbia has declined to join EU sanctions against Moscow, and both China and Russia serve as key suppliers of weapons for the Serbian army. Additionally, China has provided significant economic support to Serbia through loans for infrastructure projects, including a recently signed free trade agreement that contradicts EU economic policies.
In summary, Orbán’s meeting with Putin indicates Hungary’s efforts to maintain and expand ties with Russia despite tensions within the EU over the war in Ukraine. The meeting also highlights Serbia’s growing alignment with Russia and China, which raises concerns among European countries.