Expert: Putin’s Russia blackmails PM Orbán
Zoltán Sz. Bíró, a Russia expert, was the guest on the Friderikusz podcast and talked about the anti-Russia sanctions and the communication of the government and PM Orbán concerning that issue. He said that what Orbán did after the Bucha massacre shows that the Hungarian prime minister is no longer a “free man” concerning Russia.
According to szmo.hu, Sándor Friderikusz, the podcast’s host, was curious why Orbán communicates in a “putinish” way. Mr Sz. Bíró said he thought for a long while that the Hungarian prime minister believed that provided he maintains a good relationship with the Russian leader, he would seem more powerful. However, the Russia-expert said Orbán stood beside Putin after the Bucha massacres. Sz. Bíró said he could not agree with Orbán, who believed the US president went too far by condemning Putin for what happened in the Ukrainian city during the Russian occupation.
He believes Orbán lost his freedom after Bucha. For whatever reason, the Hungarian prime minister cannot act following the Hungarian national interests in the issue, he added. He said the Hungarian national interest was never to get cheap Russian oil and gas. That is because other countries, being hostile towards Russia after the invasion could also deal with their energy needs without Russian help. Therefore, Hungary does not need to maintain a special relationship with Russia, Sz. Bíró believes.
He said Orbán did so because there is some other reason why he lost his autonomy in connection with Russia and its president. However, he could not tell the reason.
Read alsoEnd of Putin-Orbán friendship? Russian gas very expensive for Hungary
“The Russian leadership blackmails him, and he is not a free person regarding Russia”, szmo.hu wrote. Sz. Bíró cleared that Orbán accepted all of the EU sanction packages, so criticising the so-called “Brussels bureaucrats” in that issue is a delusion of the society.
Regarding the national consultation launched by Fidesz concerning the sanctions, he said the government would ask questions to which the people do not know the answer since nobody knows what effects some of the sanctions have on Russia, for example, in the long run.
He also drew public attention to a weakness in the government’s communication. The Orbán administration never says that Putin should stop the invasion despite regularly talking about how important ending the war would be from an economic point of view.
Sz. Bíró believes Hungary should support Ukraine in multiple ways until Kyiv wins the war. “There is no room for compromises”, he added. He highlighted there was no guarantee that if Russia won, they would stop trying to get more territories.
Read alsoUS embassy slams Hungarian government in a hard-hitting video
Below, you may listen to the full episode in Hungarian:
Source: szmo.hu, Friderikusz Podcast
Don’t think we need an expert to tell us
Putin blackmails Orbán.
Our Politicians insist Ukraine should enter into negotiations with the Kremlin. For the sake of Hungary, the world economy, peace, Europe, humanity, you name it. No word regarding the return of occupied territories, release of Ukrainians deported against their will, compensation for damages caused by the hostilities (especially since Russia has gone from “liberation” to “annihilation” mode, hitting civilian infrastructure) and the perhaps the war criminals issue.
As Mr. Szijjártó and other Politicians are keen to point out regarding our “pragmatic” cooperation with Russia: “Hungarian diplomacy is directed from Budapest and is only prepared to make decisions that serve the interests of the Hungarian people”. So. – why should the Ukrainians adapt a different playbook?
From mobilization to change in (brutal) tactics, Russia seems intent to emerge as a victor from this war – that should worry us, greatly!
I alwasy thought that there was more, possibly much more, than meets the eye.
It is also common knowledge (?) that Russia has hacked (or is STILL hacking) anything and everything to do with this Hungarian Government, and Putin might have a LOT of dirt on V.O.
Is that any closer to pointing us in the right direction from where to seek answers about what hold Putin would have on V.O. Seek and Ye shall find.
A word of advice for V.O.
The next time you meet with your chum (V.P.), make sure YOU wear the red tie, it implies that you mean business. It symbolises wealth, strength, authority and dominance.
…Nah, I take that back, One wouldn’t like to steal V.P.’s “thunder” by appearing NOT to be subservient.