International press: Hungary puts power in Putin’s hands
After new emerged that Péter Szijjártó, Hungary’s foreign minister, travelled to Moscow to discuss Hungarian gas supplies, the international press immediately reacted in one way or another. As they point out, Hungary is not seeking independence from Russian gas, which gives Vladimir Putin greater power over the EU country.
As we reported, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó travelled to Moscow on Tuesday to discuss gas supplies to Hungary. He held talks with Alexander Novak, Deputy Prime Minister for Energy, and Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom.
“Hungary’s energy security requires uninterrupted gas, oil and nuclear fuel supplies. To ensure this, cooperation with Russia in the energy sector must be continued. This is not a matter of political taste, but of physics,” Index quoted Szijjártó as saying.
FAZ: Hungary continues cooperation with Russia
Hungary is heavily dependent on Russian gas and oil supplies. Even after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this dependence has not been significantly reduced. On the contrary, the Viktor Orbán-led government has opposed EU sanctions on Russian energy supplies, thee Frankfurter Allgeimeine Zeitung reports.
According to the portal, there are growing signs that the United States is putting increasing pressure on NATO partner Hungary. They write that Budapest is not only not supplying arms to Russia-attacked Ukraine, but is demonstratively not allowing NATO arms shipments through its territory.
TIME: The agreement strengthens Putin’s power
TIME writes that Szijjártó’s meeting in Moscow is part of Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán’s efforts to ensure that his country’s dependence on Russian oil, gas and nuclear supplies does not diminish, even as the rest of the EU seeks independence.
The news portal points out that Péter Szijjártó’s interlocutors, Novak and Likhachev, have been sanctioned by Ukraine and some of its allies, but not by the EU. The article also points out that Novak’s person is key to Hungary’s continued efforts to import gas and oil from Russia, after Orbán won an exemption from the EU ban by threatening to block it.
Bloomberg: Hungary defies EU position
New York-based Bloomberg reported on Péter Szijjártó’s visit to Russia under the headline “Hungary Envoy Seals Energy Deals in Moscow Despite EU Stance”.
“Hungary’s top diplomat secured a deal to expand gas flows from Russia and renewed a financing agreement on its nuclear power plant, underscoring Budapest’s schism with the rest of the European Union over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,”
Bloomberg writes.
The US magazine also makes the same point in its article: PM Viktor Orbán is seeking to increase Hungary’s dependence on Russian oil, gas and nuclear energy. Meanwhile, the countries of the EU are increasingly trying to become independent of it.
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6 Comments
Just another FACTUAL example that Orban and his Government are into up to there NECKS with Russia.
This is another NAIL in the Coffin for Hungary, that besides the European Union, Great Britain & Ireland, the United States of America – and “other “country’s – that are DEMOCRACY’s – that Orban continues – his POSITION, that Democracy in Hungary – the European Union requirement of member country’s functionality practice embracement of DEMOCRACY – that Orban doesn’t want any connection nor resemblance to governance of Hungary under DEMOCRACY.
“Live by the Sword – Die by the Sword” – this biblical proverb attributed to St Mathew, lot of “marriage” to what Orban is DOING to Hungary.
You don’t see anyone in the West buying Russian nuclear reactors except Hungary which maybe should not be referred to as a “Western” country anymore. This is completely a matter of politics and corruption no matter what blockhead Russophile Szjijarto will try to say. Hungary could be buying it’s nuclear reactors from other countries and should be putting in place infrastructure and agreements to secure its’ gas and oil supplies from countries whose energy company executives don’t have a habit of falling out of windows in high places.
Anonymous – Absolutely Correct.
The “Himmler” look alike, or Orban “gofer” or “fall guy” – the Foreign Minister – Peter Szijjarto- the “crap” just absolute PROPAGANDA, the script written by Victor Orban – DANGEROUS.
Hungary – on-going problem is – the continuation, as things WORSEN around us, the deepening of our DIVORSE from Democracy, all the Dangers & Negatives involved for current and into the FUTURE for Hungary – and yet in our millions we continue to do the Dance of the Lemmings – just following the Pied Piper, we know to whom that refers, who has us on a cliff edge – nearing tumbling into the abyss.
The “Dance of the Lemmings” – could be included as a Major Dance on National Day when we again get RULED from Moscow.
WHATS going on with the OPPOSTION Party’s of Government in Hungary?
Have they SURRENDERED?
Please Hungary. Leave the EU and NATO. Take care and good luck!
As a matter of record, the USA is not a democracy, it is a republic with a Constitution.
Nothing really complicated here. It is all about VOTES. The current party can’t afford to loose popular support. Cold citizens tend to vote for the opposition. The real problem is that Hungary (leadership) wants to stay neutral. Aside the fact that so called ‘neutrality’ never worked out for Hungary and wound up on the loosing side time and time again. Let’s face it Hungary would be a speed bump for an all out Russian attack. But Russia is almost alone unless you count the puppet Belaruse on some insignificant former satellite countries. On the other hand there is the 31 NATO countries with the might of the US military behind it. Hungary’s saving grace is that since 1997 it is a NATO country. But while membership has its privileges it also has its obligations. Turkey (the only Muslim NATO member) and Hungary seem to be the weakest link. Could it be because both have a ‘stringman’ as it’s leader?