Orban Meets Putin Before Ukraine Talks

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow just days before Russia is scheduled to have talks about a U.S. plan to end the war in Ukraine.

Orban is known as one of Putin’s strongest supporters in Europe. He has frequently enough upset his allies in NATO and the EU by not fully supporting them against Russia.

“we certainly know your fair view on the situation in Ukraine,” Putin told Orban, according to Russian state TV.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on social media that Hungary got what it wanted from the Moscow trip: a promise of continued Russian oil and gas supplies, and an agreement to keep building the Paks nuclear power station.

friedrich Merz, a leader in Germany (the EU’s largest country), reacted to the news of orban’s visit. He told reporters, “He is acting without permission from Europe and isn’t talking to us about it, but that’s not new.”

Merz said about Orban and his ideas for ending the war in Ukraine, “He has his own ideas. So far, they haven’t worked. If someone has a better plan than we do, that’s great. But I don’t think this time will be any diffrent.”

Putin thanked Orban for suggesting Budapest as a place for a possible meeting between Russia and the U.S., with President Donald Trump.

“Trump said right away: ‘We have good relationships with Hungary, you have good relationships with Viktor, and so do I, so I suggest this option.’ We were happy to agree,” Putin said.

Reuters reported that Orban told putin that Hungary wants peace and offered, “Our meetings today give me the chance to confirm, Mr. President, that Hungary is ready to offer a place for thes talks.”

Though, the meeting between the two groups in Moscow seemed a bit cold. At one point, Orban accidentally bumped into Putin after shaking hands with othre Russian officials.