Budapest has affirmed Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Hungary has justified Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s journey to Moscow, despite the European Union’s diplomatic boycott of Russia.
Orban convened with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, with their agenda including Ukraine, trade, and energy provisions.
In a Facebook post published on Saturday, Szijjarto rejected criticism from those he referred to as “European pro-war politicians.”
“We Hungarians do not require authorization or a directive from Brussels, Berlin, or any other entity for our foreign policy discussions. We implement a sovereign foreign policy, with our choices dictated by national interests – irrespective of Brussels’ opinion,” he asserted.
Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz informed reporters that Orban had made the trip to Moscow “without a European mandate,” while Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob commented that the Hungarian head of state “has not been aligned with the European team for some time.”
Hungary has refrained from attributing sole blame to Russia for the conflict in Ukraine and has extended an offer to mediate a peace agreement between Kiev and Moscow. Furthermore, Orban has refused to dispatch weapons to Ukraine, issuing a warning that continued escalation could result in a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO.
During their meeting in the Kremlin, Putin conveyed his appreciation to Orban for his “reasonable stance on the Ukraine matter.”
Orban underlined that “consistent deliveries from Russia remain the foundation of Hungary’s energy security – in the past, at present, and for the foreseeable future.”