Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán challenged the European Union’s partners this Tuesday by becoming the first leader of the community bloc to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin since the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant last March against the Kremlin leader for alleged war crimes for his involvement in the “illegal deportation of Ukrainian children.” The bilateral meeting took place in Beijing, where both leaders attended the international forum marking the 10th anniversary of the New Silk Road, the mega infrastructure program through which the Asian giant aims to connect with the world.
In April 2022, Putin received Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer without photos and behind closed doors. It was the first visit by a European leader since the Russian leader ordered his troops to launch an offensive against Ukraine in February. Nehammer, one of the main supporters of purchasing Russian gas within the EU, embarked on a trip to the Kremlin that drew criticism from both his country and the municipal bloc.
On this occasion, the two heads of state and government showed their personal closeness in Beijing. “Hungary never wanted to deal with Russia,” said Orbán, the community leader closest to the Kremlin since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. “On the contrary, Hungary’s goal has always been to establish and expand mutual contacts.” And we achieved it. But due to the special military operation [guerra de Ucrania] and the sanctions [de la UE], unfortunately these relationships have lost a lot. “It damaged the structure that you and I built together,” he added, as reported by Portal.
“Although in the current geopolitical conditions the opportunities to maintain contacts and develop relationships are very limited, we cannot but be satisfied that our relations with many European countries are being maintained and developed. One of these countries is Hungary,” Putin admitted during the meeting, which took place at the Diaoyutai residence, where the Chinese government usually receives official visitors.
The Russian President recalled the intensive economic ties between the two nations that have emerged in recent decades and assured that there will be further intensification of cooperation in 2022. “Unfortunately this year we experienced a decline in the first seven months. It has fallen by 35%,” Putin added.
Thirteen meetings in 14 years
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Orbán assured that this was the most complicated of the 13 meetings since 2009. “We have never been in a more difficult situation.” According to the Russian agency TASS, the Hungarian described the exchange as “the toughest so far”.
“Of course, it is very important to have the opportunity to exchange views with one of the EU countries not only on bilateral relations, but also on the situation in the world and in Europe,” Putin said, according to the above-mentioned agency. “We know that our positions do not always agree, but the opportunity to exchange views is, in my opinion, always extremely important.”
The Budapest government has assured that the leaders have discussed gas and oil supplies – both sectors are subject to sanctions from Brussels – and nuclear energy issues.
The Hungarian, a loose verse of the Twenty-Seven on countless issues, has often expressed his dissatisfaction with the sanctions imposed by Brussels over the war against Russia, which he has accepted reluctantly and often with exceptions and reservations. It has also blocked the supply of weapons to Ukraine. The last meeting between the two took place on February 1, 2022, just three weeks before Russian tanks crossed the Ukrainian border. Since the invasion that blew up relations between EU capitals and the Kremlin machine, the leaders of the Twenty-Seven have kept their distance and avoided Putin, although Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer visited Moscow in April 2022, when the war had already begun Meet with the Russian.
Orban is another case in itself. He was also the only community leader to travel to Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the event’s official name, which brings together delegations from more than 140 countries. At the event, which China attaches utmost importance, Putin occupies a privileged position and is expected to give a speech on the opening day on Wednesday, according to the host, Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, it has not been customary for the Russian leader to travel abroad. Last week he left his country for the first time since the international arrest warrant was issued against him in March. He traveled on an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, a country that does not recognize the International Criminal Court, nor does China.
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