Putin in Budapest – Orban: EU-Russia relations must be settled as quickly as possible

Budapest, February 17 (MTI) – Relations between the European Union and Russia must be settled in a reasonable way and as quickly as possible, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said at a joint press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

Orban said that though the South Stream gas pipeline project had failed, receiving gas from the south remained an important interest for Hungary.

After nearly two hours of talks with Putin in parliament, followed by a working dinner, Orban said Hungary and Russia had confirmed their economic cooperation, and the agreements signed “greatly serve Hungary’s interests”.

Hungary needs Russia, he said. “It is important for we Hungarians that Russia should be open to Hungarian goods, and it is in Hungary’s interest that Russian energy should be accessible in a secure, predictable and affordable way,” he added.

Commenting on broader Russian issues, Orban said Europe’s exclusion of Russia was irrational. The security of the region cannot be established against Russia, he said, urging further negotiations. A good starting point for a settlement is the Minsk ceasefire agreement, he said. Peace and Eurasian economic cooperation would be a good basis for a settlement, he added.

At the same time, he insisted that Hungary would not present a threat to European unity.

Orban said he had told Putin during the meeting that “we are on the side of peace and put great hope in the ceasefire.”

“We Hungarians have 200,000 arguments for peace in Ukraine”, he said referring to the ethnic Hungarians in Ukraine.