Russia
Russia expert on the Hungarian PM’s visit to Moscow: Putin made a fool out of Orbán
Viktor Orbán’s attempt to act as a mediator with his “peace mission” has ended in failure. During the Hungarian Prime Minister’s visit to Moscow, Vladimir Putin made it clear that the war in Ukraine would end on Russia’s terms. Orbán’s trip thus concluded as a tragicomedy, according to a Hungarian expert on Russian politics.
Viktor Orbán visited Moscow last week as part of his “peace mission”, sparking a significant diplomatic outcry among European politicians. The first stop of the peace mission was Kyiv, which was a success. However, “in Moscow, they made a fool out of Viktor Orbán,” writes András Rácz, a Hungarian expert on Russia, in a recent Facebook post.
Kyiv: A successful stop for the PM
Rácz explains that Orbán’s visit to Kyiv at the beginning of the week, despite being organised rather quickly, was a success. As he puts it in his post, “It is only possible to organise a meeting of heads of state and government in such a short time if both sides really want it – and this time both sides really wanted it.”
Granted, Orbán’s peace plan presented to the Ukrainians was, according to Rácz, “on the level of someone announcing that he has invented hot water.” How realistic is it, the researcher continues, that instead of the key players in international politics, “the Hungarian prime minister will come up with a solution out of the blue, that no one has ever thought of AND it works.” Nonetheless, in a show of diplomacy, “Orbán got to say what he wanted to say, and the Ukrainians did not laugh at him,” writes Rácz.
Perhaps more importantly, Orbán and Zelensky had a lengthy one-on-one conversation, during which they discussed economic issues. While relations between the two leaders remained strained, with no joint press conference and no signing of a joint statement, the meeting signals a possibility that “important things can start happening, from improving the language rights of the Hungarian minority to opening new border crossings. Nothing has been decided, nothing is guaranteed, nothing is set in stone yet – but it’s a good start.”
Moscow: “Halfway between ridiculous and tragic”
Rácz takes a more critical tone on Orbán’s visit to Moscow. The meeting was organised in a similarly short time, but unlike the meeting with Zelensky, the Hungarian government kept it secret from its allies until the last minute. “This attempt at secrecy,” writes Rácz, “has only resulted in one thing: it has seriously damaged the already not very steely European and American image of Hungary and Hungarian foreign policy.”
Moreover, as the expert sees it, Orbán was seriously humiliated by Putin during the meeting at multiple points: at the press conference, Putin was the first to speak, effectively spelling out his terms on Ukraine, “and Orbán sat there, scalded, without a word about his great little ‘peace plan’. In fact, […] Orbán didn’t even talk about his ‘plan’ that he presented in Kyiv.”
“and Orbán sat there, scalded, without a word about his great little ‘peace plan’. In fact, […] Orbán didn’t even talk about his ‘plan’ that he presented in Kyiv.”
But Putin humiliated Orbán right from the beginning. “Putin’s fifth (!) sentence was ‘We are aware that you represent the European Union here’’. This, as Rácz points out, was of course not true, but it did force Orbán into a defensive communication position. In contrast, Putin had an excellent opportunity to convey to his domestic audience, but also to the international community, as the researcher puts it, “See, Russia is not isolated, the Council of the EU’s President is right here.”
What was the point of the visit to Moscow?
The expert concludes that “the visit to Moscow really did not have any concrete benefits. In Kyiv, a number of quite important things were agreed to start – but nothing of the sort happened in Moscow. It was all for Putin’s benefit.” There is no explanation for the visit to Russia based on any Hungarian national interest. In contrast, Putin was given the opportunity to repeat his ultimatum at the press conference with Orbán.
Rácz lists four possible explanations for the trip:
- Orbán is serving Moscow as a Russian agent against Ukraine, the European Union, and NATO
- Orbán is convinced that the war will end in a Russian victory and total Ukrainian annihilation and is ready to switch his system of values and alliances to be on the winning side at the end of the war.
- Orbán believes that Donald Trump will win the upcoming US presidential election and will be able to bring peace to Ukraine. “Ergo, Orbán will try to look like a prophet, as he did in 2015 during the migration crisis.”
And finally:
“The fourth possible explanation is that the prime minister REALLY believes that he is influential enough that he will actually be able to mediate between the warring parties. Despite the fact that he leads a small, weak country in a catastrophic economic and social situation, utterly divided and completely isolated within its own federal system (the EU Presidency will not change this – especially after the visit to Moscow). This would mean that the Prime Minister is now completely and utterly out of touch with reality. In other words, he has gone mad.”
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Putin to Orbán: If Ukraine wants peace, it has to capitulate
18+: Hilarion, head of Russian Orthodoxy in Hungary, accused of sexual misconduct
Metropolitan Hilarion, the head of the Hungarian Orthodox Church, is a significant figure in Russian-Hungarian church relations, evidenced by his gaining Hungarian citizenship only a few weeks after his arrival in the country. According to a young man who has worked and lived with him, his luxury villa near Budapest has hosted Russian oligarchs and important figures from Hungarian public life alike in recent years. Now, the same man is accusing the leader of sexual abuse.
Metropolitan Hilarion, the right-hand man of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and formerly the second-in-command of the Russian Orthodox Church, has been accused of sexual misconduct, HVG reports. In an interview with the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta, his former subordinate revealed details about his dealings in Hungary, including that he lives in a €2.15 million villa and that he has been granted citizenship here.
Who is Metropolitan Hilarion and why did he come to Hungary?
Hilarion (whose secular name is Grigory Valerievich Alfeyev) was long considered the right-hand man of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, seen as his potential successor and the second most powerful leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. However, in 2022, he was suddenly relieved of several of his posts and sent to Hungary without any official explanation. Here, he was appointed Metropolitan of Hungary, becoming the head of the diocese in the country.
At the time, HVG reported that Hilarion was
“not denied a visa by the Hungarian authorities for political reasons, despite having links to Russian security services. According to [a publication that] specialises in intelligence, he was sent to Hungary because [here] he would be protected from Western European sanctions.”
Georgy Suzuki, then 18 years old, first met Hilarion in 2022 through correspondence and then accompanied him to Hungary as a clergyman. A few weeks later, the metropolitan asked him to move in with him to help with the housework, to which Suzuki agreed.
According to Suzuki, Hilarion forced him to share a room and a bed, in which he had to lie naked. Although they did not have sex, Hilarion had on multiple occasions spent the night in his bed. When Suzuki said that he wanted to leave, the metropolitan threatened that if he did anything, he would get hurt. Suzuki made audio recordings of these events, which he sent to Novaya Gazeta.
In January, Suzuki fled and is now living in Japan. In April, the the Hungarian press reported that Suzuki had stolen large amounts of cash and other valuables from the Hungarian Orthodox Diocese building in Budapest. The man is still wanted by the police for the theft.
The Patriarch’s right-hand man is now a Hungarian citizen?
Hilarion is an important mediator between the Western and Russian Orthodox Churches and has connections to Hungarian politicians too, HVG writes. This is evidenced by the fact that in 2019, he was awarded the Central Cross of the Hungarian Order of Merit by Zsolt Semjén, and in 2023, he met Pope Francis during his visit to Hungary. Moreover, according to photos provided by Suzuki, Hilarion received Hungarian citizenship and a passport shortly after his arrival in the country.
Photo: MTI/Prime Minister’s Press Office
According to Suzuki, Hilarion lived a luxurious life in the country, and they went skiing and sailing together on several occasions, as well as on multiple yachting trips. Suzuki shared photos of these trips with the newspaper.
Hilarion also bought a luxurious home of more than 2,000 square metres on the outskirts of Budapest for €2.15 million. HVG identified the property in the photos of Suzuki as the Castle of Vácduka. The newspaper also published the floor plan of the mansion, showing that it has 14 rooms, a wine cellar, a swimming pool, and a garage for six c
In one of the audio recordings, Hilarion told Suzuki that he had run out of money after buying the mansion, so he had to sell his expensive wine collection for €15,000 to furnish his new residence. However, he kept a few bottles and a watch collection.
“I thought, if I had to give a gift to somebody, I don’t know, like Viktor Orbán or somebody, what would I give?”
says Hilarion in one audio recording.
It is alleged that, although the paper did not name names other than Zsolt Semjén, several high-ranking Hungarian public figures have visited Hilarion at his villa. And, according to the report by Novaya Gazeta, Russian oligarchs, including Russian billionaires hit by EU sanctions, were present at the Vácduka mansion too.
When asked by Novaya Gazeta, Hilarion did not deny that he owned a property in Budapest. He claimed that he bought the house with the royalties he received for his books and that he intended to use the property as a monastery. As for Suzuki’s accusations, Hilarion stated that the young man was incited by his mother to try to blackmail him, that the accusations were unfounded, and that he would sue.
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Orbán and Putin’s meeting in Moscow sparks serious diplomatic conflict in Brussels
Putin to Orbán: If Ukraine wants peace, it has to capitulate
Orbán to Putin: We cannot feel secure
“Peace is most important for Europe; the Hungarian EU presidency will dedicate the next half year … to a mission for peace,” Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at a press conference held jointly with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their talks in Moscow on Friday.
Orbán: We cannot feel secure
Orbán said that at their talks he told Putin that “unprecedented development in Europe in recent decades was based on peace … but now, we have been living in the shadow of war for two and a half years, which causes extreme hardships for Europe.” “We cannot feel secure; we can see the signs of destruction and suffering, while the war is now manifested in a broken economic development and our reduced competitiveness,” the Hungarian PM said.
Orbán said peace could not be achieved “without dialogue or diplomatic channels … peace will not develop by itself, it needs to be created and one must work for it.” The PM said he had discussed options to that end with the Russian president to find out “which way to peace is shortest.”
Orbán said he had sought Putin’s position on three subjects, firstly, what he thought about the current peace plans and the format of peace talks. He also wanted to know what Putin’s position was “on the relationship between a ceasefire and peace talks … if a ceasefire could precede peace negotiations.” He then said he also wanted to know Putin’s opinion concerning Europe’s security system after the war.
Orbán said he was grateful to Putin for “the open and straightforward discussion”.
Referring to his recent visit to Kyiv and Friday’s talks in Moscow, Orbán said “I have seen that the positions are far apart; and the number of steps that need to be taken to end the war and create peace is high, but the first important step towards restoring a dialogue was taken today,” adding that he would carry on with the work he had started.
Putin: a complete and final resolution
Putin said Russia wanted a “complete and final” resolution to the conflict rather than just a ceasefire. He said his talks with Orbán had been “timely and useful” and thanked Orbán for his visit. He added that Moscow considered it as an attempt to restore dialogue. He said that the talks had been “rather thorough, informal and straightforward”. The Russian president expressed his country’s readiness to settle the conflict through negotiations, but added that Ukraine still trusted that they could win.
He said Ukraine’s supporters carried on trying “to use that country and its people as a battering ram and sacrifice them in the confrontation with Russia.”
Putin suggested that Ukraine could use a temporary ceasefire to recover losses, regroup and rearm. A complete resolution of the conflict requires immediate withdrawal of all Ukrainian troops from the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzia and Kherson regions, he said, adding that Russia had further requirements.
On another subject, Putin said work on Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant expansion was ongoing, adding that the two new blocks would more than double the plant’s total capacity.
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Putin to Orbán: If Ukraine wants peace, it has to capitulate
Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán visited Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of what he calls a “peace mission” on 5 July, three days after visiting Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky. During the meeting, Putin informed Orbán that for peace to be achieved, Ukraine must essentially surrender. Orbán’s visit to Moscow, which angered the EU, US, and Kyiv, was aimed at discussing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Putin criticised Kyiv for its determination to “continue the war”
During the Kremlin visit of PM Orbán (“the friendliest leader in the EU to Moscow”, according to Euractiv), described by Putin as a “really useful, frank conversation,” the two leaders discussed potential solutions to the Ukraine conflict. The Russian President reiterated his demand for Ukraine to withdraw troops from regions annexed by Moscow and criticised Kyiv for its determination to continue the war.
The meeting, held shortly after Hungary assumed the EU’s rotating presidency, was seen as controversial. EU officials condemned Orbán’s visit, emphasising that he did not represent the EU in these discussions. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell criticised Orbán, asserting that his visit undermined the EU’s unified stance on Ukraine.
The Ukrainian government also denounced the meeting, clarifying that Hungary had not coordinated the visit with Kyiv. The White House and NATO echoed the EU’s disapproval, with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stating that Orbán was not representing the alliance in his talks with Putin.
While most EU leaders condemned the visit, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico supported Orbán’s initiative, stating he would have joined if not for health issues.
Orbán, defending his actions, argued that peace requires dialogue and action, not just discussions in Brussels.
This visit marked the first by a European leader to Moscow since Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer’s trip in April 2022. Orbán and Putin had previously met in October 2023 in Beijing to discuss energy cooperation, Euractiv concludes.
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Orbán and Putin’s meeting in Moscow sparks serious diplomatic conflict in Brussels
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s visit to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin has caused significant controversy across Europe.
Many officials and leaders in Brussels feel that the Hungarian government has misused its six-month presidency of the EU, which began on Monday, according to Portfolio. The European Commission stated that it had no prior knowledge of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s trip to Moscow.
The timing of the visit has provoked harsh criticism from European leaders, who assert that Orbán does not have the authority to negotiate on behalf of the EU. European Council President Charles Michel emphasised that the country holding the EU presidency has no mandate to negotiate with Russia on behalf of the EU, according to Politico, stressing that any talks on Ukraine should include the direct involvement of the Ukrainian authorities.
European Commission concerned about Orbán and Putin meeting
The European Commission has expressed concern that Orbán’s unilateral diplomatic efforts could undermine the unity needed to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. The implications of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s visit, including its potential impact on EU-Russia relations and future diplomatic engagements, remain a matter of ongoing scrutiny and debate in European political circles.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed her scepticism about the effectiveness of such unilateral diplomatic efforts, stating on social media that “Appeasement will not stop Putin”. She also noted that the Commission had not been informed in advance of Orbán’s visit.
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, who has been nominated as the EU’s next chief diplomat, criticised Orbán for using his EU presidency to create confusion.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell made it clear that Viktor Orbán’s visit to Moscow is strictly within the framework of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia and does not represent the EU as a whole: “Prime Minister Orbán has not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow. The EU position on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine is reflected in many European Council conclusions,” he said in his statement.
Orbán’s visit to Moscow also raises questions about the European Commission’s forthcoming visit to Hungary, the European Commission stated, according to Eurologus.
Although Viktor Orbán’s visit to Moscow is his first since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it is not his first meeting with Putin since the start of the war, as the leaders previously met in China last October. During Friday’s meeting, Orbán stressed the importance of the occasion, acknowledged the challenges, and expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet Putin in these difficult times.
Portfolio reports that the meeting in the Kremlin concluded with Viktor Orbán stating that Hungary will soon be the only EU member state able to negotiate with all parties involved in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. Putin responded positively to Orbán’s remarks, referring to the ongoing discussions on the nuances of the war.
Read also:
Breaking – Viktor Orbán arrives in Moscow, continues ‘peace mission’ with talks with Putin – Read here
BREAKING: PM Orbán in Kyiv for talks with President Zelensky – a step towards peace? – Read here
PM Orbán: Peace will come when someone makes it
Peace will not happen by itself, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán told public radio in an interview on Friday. “Peace will come when someone makes it,” he said in connection with the war in Ukraine.
Orbán said that Hungary, as the holder of the EU’s rotating presidency, did not have the mandate to negotiate on behalf of the European Union. “This never occurred to me,” he said.
He said his task was to demonstrate how the situation has unfolded in respect of how far each party can go, and once this is revealed the leaders of the 27 EU member states can come to a decision. Henceforth, those authorised to negotiate “will do so”.
“But this is still very far off,” the prime minister said. “We can only take the first steps on the road to peace.”
Orbán said that Europe should hold the compass of peace and humanity, humane thinking, and pursue a humane foreign policy, and it was likely that it could do more to move towards peace.
Commenting on his recent meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, the prime minister said that Hungary knew its place and “the big countries” would handle the big peace negotiations, but in a vacuum of dialogue it was “very hard to imagine how to move in the direction of peace without it”.
Orbán said his job was to make the facts clear by going to the places where there was a threat of war that may have an impact on Europe and Hungary.
The prime minister said he had asked Zelensky several questions to gauge where his red lines were and how far he could go for the sake of peace.
He said Hungary could be useful for those who strove for peace. “The positions are far apart, but Hungary can get the parties off to a start along the long road ahead, with a ceasefire and peace negotiations at the end.”
Zelensky, he said, was unhappy about the idea of peace talks or a ceasefire as “the other side” may take advantage of the latter by redeploying forces.
But it would be possible to overcome such a standoff “with some perspective and knowing that peace negotiations are only a few weeks or months off,” he added.
The prime minister said there were “all sorts of surveys” after Europe had decided to “get involved in the war on Ukraine’s side”. Discussions and surveys about the war, he added, were also part of the war, meaning that they were “manipulated” or “hard to believe”.
Orbán mentioned his recent visits to Berlin, Rome and Paris in preparation for Hungary’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, along with his visit to Kyiv this week, where he said he had spoken to not just politicians and decision-makers but also “the average people”.
During his trips, he said he saw a kind of “moral pressure” for Europe to do more to “ease the tension of war” when conflict broke out in its neighbourhood that should not have.
There was also a feeling, he added, expectations were too weighted towards waiting for America to act instead of taking more pro-active steps today.
Also, people were worried about the impact of the war on Europe’s economy, he said, citing cost-of-living worries in Western Europe and “war inflation everywhere”.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said that France’s parliamentary election would not only influence the number of groups or representatives in the European Parliament but the future of the whole of Europe.
Orbán said it was unprecedented in France for a right-wing party to make a breakthrough in a domestic election. The right, he added, had been cordoned off and excluded from French politics in recent decades, deemed unfit for cooperation by other parties.
But they had broken through this cordon, Orbán said, “and if I’m right, not by a small but by a big margin — if we’re interpreting the first round correctly.”
Such a momentous development in France would precipitate change “that will immediately affect the entire continent”, he said, adding that this would also influence ties between Hungary and France.
In one possible scenario, the right wing in France may win to an extent that it can form a government, but a confused situation may also emerge if its victory did not turn out to be decisive, and this could also affect European politics, he said.
Marine Le Pen’s party, he added, was “the biggest national group in the European Parliament … so it isn’t a matter of indifference how they decide their fate.”
Regarding the Patriots for Europe group, Orbán said a founding meeting will take place on Monday. Parties will gather that have already decided to join but have not yet announced their intention to do so, he added.
Orbán reiterated that the force could possibly end up being the second largest grouping in the EP.
Meanwhile, Orbán slammed the recent series of flight delays and cancellations a “unacceptable”, saying it was “impossible not to be outraged” by what was happening in the sector.
“It’s not about whether or not air travel is well-organised, but that there’s not even the bare minimum of humanity,” Orbán said. He added that most passengers had been working throughout the entire year to be able to use their savings to go on holiday, and this was “one of the important events of the year” for most Hungarian families.
Orbán said passengers were not being shown “any humanity” by airlines when they were not kept informed about the situation and the long delays.
He said what was happening at Liszt Ferenc International Airport was a consequence of the period before the state had re-acquired it, adding that he trusted that the situation would improve “when the actual physical takeover happens”. He said it was not just the airport’s operator that needed to do a better job, but also air traffic control and the ground crew.
Orbán said the government expected staff and crew that interacted with Hungarians and tourists to show “more understanding and humanity”, adding that he had instructed his ministers to enforce those expectations.
On the topic of vehicle fuel prices, the prime minister said the government would not tolerate Hungarians having to pay more for fuel than the average price in neighbouring countries. Hungary’s vehicle fuel companies must honour the agreement they signed with the government, he said.
“We can’t have prices keeping to the regional average for a while only to then slip out of that range,” Orbán said, adding that “this is what’s happening now”.
He said that for now, the government was asking fuel companies “verbally” to keep to the agreement. “But we won’t say it twice. We have an agreement and it must be honoured. We tolerate Hungarians being made to pay more for fuel than what is the average price in neighbouring countries. And if this polite message doesn’t work, we’ll take steps.”
On another subject, Orbán criticised the EU’s tariffs on China’s biggest electric vehicle manufacturers as “bad and ill-thought-out”, warning that the measure could trigger a trade war.
Orbán said the “biggest aim and the strongest hope” was that the tariffs would only be temporary and would be lifted after four months.
He said the European Commission had justified the introduction of the tariffs with the need to protect the interests of European manufacturers, adding, at the same time, that the leaders of the major carmakers he had spoken to ahead of the start of Hungary’s EU presidency had strongly opposed the measure.
“These kinds of bad and ill-though-out decisions can push economic life towards a trade war”, the prime minister warned, saying this “decision by the bureaucrats” could trigger counter-measures from the East.
Hungary’s interests, he said, lay in averting a trade war, because “we make our living by being able to sell what we produce in Hungary all over the world”. “But if there’s going to be a trade war then we won’t be able to sell the products produced in Hungary, and this could eventually threaten jobs,” he added.
Turning to the economy, Orbán said there were encouraging signs which should neither be overestimated nor underestimated. He underlined the importance of the tourism sector, noting that the money spent by tourists in Hungary made its way into the Hungarian economy.
He said the government was trying to reach an agreement with Hungarian employers that would result in good wages, as this was “the most important tool in the fight against inflation”.
“We’re burning the candle at both ends … in the interest of easing the cost of living,” he said, adding that 60 percent of bookings in the tourism sector were from domestic and 40 percent form foreign travellers, which indicated that “there’s something Hungarians can afford here at home”.
Orbán said that in addition to the government’s housing programmes that have helped 250,000 families the home renovation subsidy scheme would help 20,000-30,000 families.
He said employment data and the state of the construction sector — where a bigger slowdown had been expected — were both encouraging, but it would not be until the US presidential election in the autumn and when the outcome of the war became clearer that it would be known whether a general improvement in the situation could be expected.
“We have a lot of work to do before then,” Orbán said.
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Former French president Sarkozy: Orbán ‘doing the right thing’ by going to Moscow
Viktor Orban “is doing the right thing” in his attempts to restore diplomatic communication channels as part of efforts to end the war in Ukraine, former French president Nicolas Sarkozy said in an interview to Mandiner weekly in connection with the Hungarian prime minister’s visit to Moscow on Friday.
Sarkozy approves of Orbán’s Moscow visit
“The first step on the road to peace is to restore the communication channels,” Sarkozy said. Mandiner said Orbán had discussed his visit to Moscow with Sarkozy.
Former Austria chancellor praises Orbán’s peace efforts
Former Austrian chancellor Sebastian Kurz praised Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán over his efforts towards establishing peace, saying that those “lend us an opportunity to move into the right direction”, in an interview to Mandiner.
The weekly asked Kurz, chancellor between 2017-2019, in connection with Orbán’s recent visit to Kyiv to consult with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on a peace proposal and travelled on Friday to Moscow to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine has brought enormous suffering. Our main goal must be to stop bloodshed and return to the negotiating table for talks,” Kurz said, adding that those goals could only be achieved through diplomacy and open communication.
He said efforts by Orbán and Hungary’s current EU presidency “offer us an opportunity to take a step into the right direction, but it should be up to the warring sides to seek out a solution”.
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VIDEO of the meeting – Orbán to Putin: Thank you for receiving me
President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán exchanged views in the Kremlin on how to resolve the war in Ukraine and develop bilateral relations.
Putin and Orbán exchange views
Orbán said in his greetings in front of the press that today’s meeting with Putin was their fourteenth since 2009, adding that this one was “more special than the previous ones”.
The prime minister also noted that he last visited Moscow in February 2022 before the start of the war, adding that Hungary has assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Orbán thanked Putin for receiving him “even under these difficult circumstances”. He said that Hungary was “slowly becoming the only country in Europe” that could speak to both warring sides.
Watch the video of the meeting below:
The prime minister said he wanted to make use of this situation to discuss important matters with the Russian president and to gauge his stance on issues that are important for Europe.
Commenting on the impending closed-door part of the meeting, Putin said he hoped “that we will have the opportunity to exchange views on building bilateral relations in this difficult situation and, of course, to talk about the prospects for the development of the biggest European crisis, I mean in the Ukrainian direction”. The comments were carried live by Russian Rossiya 1 television.
Regarding finding a solution to the crisis in Ukraine, Putin added: “Of course, I am ready to discuss the details with you regarding this issue and I expect that you will also outline the position of your European partners.”
He also touched on bilateral relations, regretting that trade turnover was down 35 percent. “All in all, we have work to do and we will realise the projects,” he added.
Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, and Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov, also attended the meeting.
Menczer: Orbán on ‘peace mission’
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is on a “peace mission”, Tamás Menczer, the communications director of the ruling Fidesz-Christian Democrat alliance, said on Friday.
“A ceasefire is possible,” Menczer said on Facebook. “It is a matter of will. We have to talk about it and work for it.”
In a video message, Menczer said those who said a ceasefire and peace talks were impossible “are simply lying”.
“Why? Because a ceasefire is merely a matter of political decision which has to be made by politicians, whether it be Moscow, Washington, Kyiv or Brussels,” Menczer said. “And politicians can indeed make decisions, and they do. They can decide the direction they want to go in.”
“So a ceasefire and peace talks are a question of political decision which is definitely possible and a matter of will,” he added.
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Breaking – Viktor Orbán arrives in Moscow, continues ‘peace mission’ with talks with Putin
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has arrived in Moscow as part of his “peace mission”, the prime minister’s press chief said.
Viktor Orbán in Moscow
Orbán is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during his visit, Bertalan Havasi told MTI.
Shortly after his arrival, Viktor Orbán posted the visit on his official Facebook page, with the following caption:
“Moscow after Kyiv. The second stage of the peace mission.”
According to Telex, shortly after 9 AM on Friday morning, the Airbus A-319 government plane that usually carries Prime Minister Viktor Orbán took off from Budapest. The PM travelled to the Russian capital a few days after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
Orbán does not represent the EU in Moscow
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a separate statement on Friday morning saying that Viktor Orbán will visit Moscow only in the framework of bilateral relations between Hungary and Russia, and will not represent the EU in any way in Moscow, Telex writes.
As we wrote on Thursday, the President of the European Council Charles Michel said on X (formerly Twitter) that the EU’s rotating presidency “has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU.” He added that the European Council’s standpoint concerning the issue was clear: “Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine.”
Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister, took to the social media site to write: “The rumours about your visit to Moscow cannot be true @PM_ViktorOrban, or can they?”
FM Szijjártó is also in Russia
According to HVG, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also travelled to the Russian capital. The news site reported that a few minutes after 7 AM, the Dassault Falcon 7x aircraft, registration 606 of the Hungarian Defence Forces, usually used by the Foreign Minister, took off from Budapest Airport. The radar image shows that the luxury jet took off for Slovakia and then flew via Belarus to Russia, landing in Moscow shortly after 9 AM. Szijjártó posted on Facebook after arriving in the Russian capital:
“Arriving in Moscow. Another step for peace!”
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BREAKING – Confirmed: PM Orbán meets Putin in Moscow on Friday!
PM Viktor Orbán was in Moscow in September 2022, attending the funeral of Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev. A Hungarian investigative journalist and several media outlets learnt from independent sources that the prime minister will travel again to Moscow to meet Putin.
PM Orbán travels to Moscow on Friday
This comes after an Orbán-Zelensky summit in Kyiv this week. The two leaders settled the conflicting issues between the two countries, based on the official communiqué, including even the state of the Transcarpathian Hungarians. However, Zelensky rejected Orbán’s ceasefire plan, saying that a ceasefire would only allow the Russians to gather new forces and continue their attack in the future.
Orbán now plans to travel to Moscow tomorrow to meet President Putin. The first one writing about the visit was Szabolcs Panyi, a Hungarian investigative journalist this afternoon. VSquare and Direkt 36 confirmed that information with the help of independent Central European sources. Based on their information, FM Szijjártó will accompany the prime minister on his journey. Szijjártó talked on the phone while Orbán negotiated with President Zelensky this week.
Press chief Bertalan Havasi or other government officials did not confirm reports of the visit, but some European leaders find it a bad idea.
EU leaders shocked
President of the European Council Charles Michel said on X (Twitter) that the EU’s rotating presidency “has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU.” He added that the European Council’s standpoint concerning the issue was clear: “Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine.”
The EU rotating presidency has no mandate to engage with Russia on behalf of the EU.
The European Council is clear: Russia is the aggressor, Ukraine is the victim. No discussions about Ukraine can take place without Ukraine.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) July 4, 2024
Mr Michel was not the only one posting on Twitter following the news about the journey. Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister, wrote only one question: “The rumours about your visit to Moscow cannot be true @PM_ViktorOrban, or can they?”
The rumours about your visit to Moscow cannot be true @PM_ViktorOrban, or can they?
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) July 4, 2024
According to Radio Free Europe (RFE), an anonymous EU official said Orbán did not inform the EU about his planned trip to Moscow. The visit was confirmed by a Hungarian government source to the RFE.
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Here’s where the first Russian discount store Mere is opening in Hungary, potentially cheaper than its competitors
The Russian discount chain Mere will soon open its first store in Hungary. According to the latest reports, the exact location of this first store has been confirmed.
On 1 April, news broke that Mere was planning to enter the local market with detailed investment plans, as we previously reported. The ambitious goal was to open twenty stores in Budapest within a year and expand to 200 stores within three years. These targets seemed optimistic, considering that it took Lidl around 15 years to reach a similar scale in Hungary. Mere’s plans also raised doubts as the company had not previously engaged with government or industry stakeholders.
Now the Russian chain is preparing to open its first store, as confirmed by Újpesti Szemle, which reported that the store will open in Újpest, specifically in Káposztásmegyer.
According to their information, the new store will be established on the site of a recently closed Spar supermarket. This site has been vacant for some time, so the opening of the new shop will not only benefit shoppers but also the local community by creating new jobs and contributing to the area’s economic development. Mere is expected to open in the second half of the year and hopes to quickly become a popular shopping destination for locals.
Initial reports indicate that they are also renting properties in Vác and Szeged, writes Világgazdaság. If everything proceeds according to schedule without further delays, these stores could open by the end of 2024.
Several Mere stores set to open in Hungary
The chain has become known in Russia and many other European countries for its extremely low prices and simple business model. However, the success of its expansion in Hungary remains uncertain. For now, Mere plans to set up a total of 15 stores in Hungary in three phases.
Moreover, Mere is basing its success on how these stores are received by domestic customers. Therefore, there is no fixed timeline for achieving their business goals. Initially, they will operate in Budapest and its surrounding areas, followed by larger cities and eventually smaller towns.
Világgazdaság also reports that their source, who is familiar with Mere’s strategy in Hungary, pointed out that the long-term goal is to create a network of up to 100 Mere stores over the next 5-10 years.
The chain will reportedly introduce a new retail model in Hungary, distinct from Lidl or Aldi. The stores will be less convenient, primarily accessible by car, but offer prices up to 30% lower by maintaining a slim 15% profit margin compared to the usual 45-60% in retail.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, which delayed the initiative, the Russian chain’s entry into Hungary had already been planned. The project was revived in the second half of 2023. The company currently employs around 20 people responsible for opening stores, administration, and procurement.
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Russian retail chain Mere to open in Hungary: Locations, timelines, products – Read here
Russian discount chain recruiting in Hungary with dream salaries! – Read here
Concerning: will the Hungarian-Russian gas transport system fall apart?
Arbitration rulings against Gazprom are slowly taking shape, and according to experts with insight into the sector, the Hungarian-Russian gas transport structure could change significantly in the near future. New routes and changes in cooperation may emerge, but Hungary’s security of supply is not at risk.
Portfolio spoke to several experts in the sector about the future of Russian gas in Europe and Hungary, who agreed that the decisions against Gazprom could bring significant changes to the gas market. However, they all emphasised that these changes will mainly affect the import structure, and Hungary’s gas supply will not be cut off.
The background
In 2022, after several European companies refused to pay Gazprom in roubles, the Russian company halted deliveries to many of its buyers. Following this incident, the affected companies filed lawsuits, which are now on track to reach verdicts in arbitration courts. The companies’ combined claims for damages could potentially reach up to EUR 70-80 billion.
However, as Portfolio points out, this fine is so large that it is highly unlikely Gazprom will be willing or able to pay. For this reason, bailiffs have been appointed to collect compensation from any money transfers that the remaining EU buyers of Russian gas make to Gazprom. These countries include Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria, where state gas companies have already received calls from Orlen at the end of May to seize a certain percentage of transactions with the Russian state-owned company.
If the payments are successfully diverted, Gazprom will probably cut off gas supplies to the affected states immediately. If they are not, the damages will remain unpaid.
To ensure the continued import of gas, at the end of May, Hungary issued a government decree prohibiting any outside third party from seizing money from transfers initiated to Gazprom, arguing that it would be an interference in the state’s internal affairs. Although the government decree is questionable from an international legal perspective, it seems effective in the short term, as a transfer to Gazprom was completed without intrusion after its enactment.
However, this solution only provides short-term protection, both because of its international legal challengeability and because EU bailiffs may soon switch to a higher level of enforcement.
Russian gas will not stop but may reach Hungary via other routes
According to an expert interviewed by Portfolio, there is a high likelihood that
“the currently known structure of Hungarian-Russian gas purchases will fall apart sooner rather than later”.
However, this does not mean that Hungary will be left without supplies, especially as the country’s gas storage facilities are currently at an exceptionally high level of 78%.
The experts interviewed highlighted three potential changes for the future. First, new intermediaries could enter the sales and transport process. This could be a way to prevent states from directly buying gas from (and paying) Gazprom, thus circumventing EU enforcement law. Unfortunately, it also means that a number of new players could be involved, some with dubious backgrounds, increasing the risk of contracts. Nonetheless, as Portfolio points out, it is still unlikely to damage the security of supply in the Hungarian gas market.
Secondly, the transport model could change, with Turkey, in particular, playing an important role with its so-called Turkish blend solution, which would involve molecules of many different origins (e.g., Russian, Azeri, Iranian) being blended in Turkey and transported to Europe as a single source. As the experts point out, this way, it would be impossible to know what proportion of gas molecules of what origin are present during transfer, so once again, technically speaking, direct import from Russia would be halted. Still, in practice, a part of the gas entering the EU would still be from Gazprom sources.
The third option concerns the Russian-Ukrainian transit routes, where the experts interviewed believe the Turkish blend could also flow. The future of this route is especially important from a Hungarian point of view because the 2021 Hungarian-Russian long-term gas purchase contract sets out to deliver 1 billion cubic metres per year of Russian gas via the Russian-Ukrainian transit through Slovakia and Austria into the country.
Overall, it can be concluded that Hungary’s sudden withdrawal from Russian gas is doubtful and that the changes that the arbitrations are expected to bring are unlikely to jeopardise the security of supply in the country. Rather, it is anticipated that the Hungarian-Russian gas transmission structure and its contractual framework will undergo changes in the near future, with potential new players entering the field.
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Russian gas purchases by Hungary still staggeringly high compared to other EU countries
Hungarian news site banned in Russia
The Hungarian news site 444.hu is the only one from Hungary on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s ban list. As of 25 June, Russia has blocked access to 81 European news services, categorised by country on the ministry’s website, with some listed as pan-European media.
Hungarian news site banned in Russia
The ministry’s statement indicates this move is a response to the EU Council’s decision on 17 May to ban “all broadcasting activities” of three Russian media outlets—RIA Novosti, Izvestia Media Information Centre, and Rossiyskaya Gazeta. This EU ban also took effect on 25 June.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, led by Sergey Lavrov, claims these measures target media outlets that “regularly disseminate false information about the course of the special military operation”, 444.hu writes.
The statement emphasises that Russia had repeatedly warned against politically motivated actions against its journalists and unjustified bans on Russian media in the EU, which would not go unanswered. Despite this, Brussels and EU member states have continued to escalate tensions, prompting Moscow to enact these counter-measures, the communiqué writes. The responsibility for these developments, the statement asserts, lies with the EU leadership and the countries supporting this decision. Russia will reconsider its stance if the EU lifts its restrictions on Russian media.
Explanation from the Russian Embassy in Budapest
On the day the ban was announced, 444.hu contacted the Russian Embassy, which now explains the ban on the Hungarian news site on Telegram, using the hashtags #Sajtószabadság (Freedom of the Press), #OroszMédia (Russian Media), #OroszországMagyarország (Russia Hungary).
“The Hungarian source was listed for systematically spreading inaccurate information about the special military operation in Ukraine. The confirmation of this can be found in several publications of 444,” the Telegram entry reads.
The embassy said in the statement that “the Russian side has repeatedly warned the EU leadership that its politically motivated measures will not go unanswered”.
The Russian embassy was therefore quicker to comment on the Russian sanctions affecting the Hungarian news site 444.hu than the Hungarian government. What is more, the latter was the only one to prevent the EU from issuing a joint statement condemning the Russian move on Wednesday.
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Featured image: illustration, depositphotos.com
Russian gas purchases by Hungary still staggeringly high compared to other EU countries
Russian gas continues to flow into Hungary, with an estimated 2.6 billion cubic metres arriving so far this year, which is 59 percent more than last year’s volume.
According to Népszava’s calculations based on Eurostat data, the price of Russian gas rose again in April to over 7 percent of the market price. After charging HUF 110 (EUR 0.28) per cubic metre, Russia sold Hungary the fuel at HUF 101 in April, 8 percent cheaper. However, the reference price on the Dutch stock market, TFF, two months earlier was HUF 108 (EUR 0.27), a 13 percent drop from February, with an EU average of HUF 94 (EUR 0.24). A price increase of around 7 percent is considered average.
So far this year, 2.6 billion cubic meters of Russian gas have been delivered to Hungary, 59 percent more than last year, when the total of 6.7 billion cubic meters also far exceeded the 4.5 billion cubic meters per year set in the new long-term Hungarian-Russian gas contract signed at the end of 2021. Other EU member states have already switched to other, more reliable suppliers.
A distinction needs to be made between gas coming through pipelines from Russia and the alternative used by other countries, liquefied natural gas (LNG), although Russia has recently started producing LNG too. Countries like the Czech Republic, which also has no coastline like Hungary, do not buy Russian gas, while in Austria, the Austro-Russian gas contract until 2040 is under discussion as well.
In April, the 14 countries reporting to Eurostat bought a total of 4 billion cubic metres of Russian gas, either piped or liquefied. Belgium, for the first time in almost two years, bought 116 million cubic metres by pipeline in addition to the LNG. Although the Hungarian data is the 4th highest of 15 pipeline and LNG transactions, after France, Italy and Spain, it is by far the highest in terms of population. The average gas tariff of Hungary, unlike in previous years, was in the middle of the range, similar to March, Népszava reports.
Is all the Russian gas bought being used in Hungary?
While domestic demand is falling, and market prices, including Russian prices, have been more or less stable for a year and a half, the Hungarian Ministry of Energy recently announced that the level of domestic storage is already over 75 percent full. So it is not impossible that some of the quantity bought will eventually be sold.
Although Hungary lost HUF 4 billion in April compared to the stock market purchase, and HUF 234 billion (EUR 593 million) since October 2021, this year’s total is close to zero, showing that prices are levelling out. Compared to April’s stock market prices, as prices have risen since then, the country gained HUF 3 billion (EUR 7.3 million) this time. However, based on this calculation the loss was HUF 305 billion (EUR 773 million) since October 2021 altogether.
As we previously reported, current court cases against Gazprom in the EU could result in several countries, including Hungary, being cut off from Russian gas. This could lead to the cessation of gas deliveries from the Russian company to the Hungarian state gas provider, as Gazprom would not have access to the payments initiated by the Hungarian gas provider, MVM. Arbitration courts have previously ruled against Gazprom in various European cases due to halted gas deliveries in 2022.
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Featured image: depositphotos.com
Foreign minister Szijjártó: No goal can be achieved without Russia
Hungary continues to call for, meaningful peace negotiations between those who are fighting the war, Péter Szijjártó, the foreign minister, said on Sunday before departing for a major peace summit on Ukraine in Switzerland.
Szijjártó recalled that for two and a half years Hungary had been “living in the shadow of the war raging next door”, and for two and a half years Hungary had been saying “loud and clear” – arguing in favour of an immediate ceasefire and peace talks – that this war has no solution on the battlefield. He also underscored that Hungary is ready to mediate between the West and Russia – read our article about it HERE!
Szijjártó noted that the later the negotiations start, the later a ceasefire is reached, the more people will die and the greater the destruction will be.
He said Hungary had always highly appreciated Switzerland’s efforts for peace but added that a peace conference could only achieve its goal if both warring sides were at the table. “But this will not happen this weekend,” he said.
“What is going on next door is a war between Russia and Ukraine, not a war between Europe and Russia, not a war between the Western world and Russia, quite simply because Russia attacked Ukraine and not Europe or the Western world. That is why we are still urging real, meaningful peace negotiations between those who are fighting the war. The international community should achieve the goal that the warring sides finally conclude a ceasefire and sit down at the same table [for talks],” the foreign minister said in a post on Facebook.
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Swiss peace summit: Hungary ready to mediate between the West and Russia
“Hungary is virtually the last European country that has not broken off communication with Russia. It keeps the channels of communication open and can negotiate with Russia,” foreign minister Péter Szijjártó pointed out as he offered to mediate between the West and the country waging war in Ukraine.
Hungary the only country to keep in touch with Russia
“As Hungary has kept the channels of communication with Russia open, it is ready to mediate towards Russia in order to protect peace and further human lives”, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said at the Peace Conference in Switzerland on Sunday, Világgazdaság reports.
Speaking at the meeting on the resolution of the war in Ukraine, the Minister underlined that he represents a country neighbouring Ukraine, a country that has been living in the shadow of war for almost two and a half years and has therefore been directly confronted with the humanitarian consequences of war.
Two-day international peace summit in Switzerland
On Saturday, a two-day international peace conference began in Bürgenstock, Switzerland, with 92 countries represented, 57 of them at the level of Heads of State or Government. The meeting was initiated by Ukraine and only after lengthy negotiations was it organised, with Russian President Vladimir Putin not invited, Telex reports.
It is attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, while the United States is represented by Kamala Harris instead of Joe Biden. China is also absent.
“We are ready and available”
Hungary is represented by Péter Szijjártó. The Foreign Minister said in his speech on Sunday: Hungary is virtually the last European country that has not broken off communication with Russia and is keeping the channels of communication open and can negotiate with Russia. Therefore, as he said, Hungary’s role in this regard could be decisive in order to “save children, to save families from being torn apart” and that Hungary is ready to play its part.
“Please do not consider it a bad thing that the communication channels are open,”
Szijjártó added. He stressed,
“We are ready, we are available, and if you have any message in this regard, we will be happy to deliver it to Moscow or St Petersburg or wherever you want, to save children, to save families and to prevent more families from being torn apart”.
Szijjártó said that there are about 150,000 Hungarians living in the western part of Ukraine, so Hungary is well aware of the suffering that Ukrainian citizens, including the Hungarians of Transcarpathia, have had to endure.
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Number of Russian buyers in the Hungarian real estate market increases
The presence of foreign nationals in the Hungarian real estate market increased in 2023, with further growth expected in 2024.
Compared to 2020, which was the weakest year for foreigners to acquire real estate in Hungary, the number of applications submitted in 2023 shows a 36% increase. While Chinese investors are still most likely to buy a property in the country, Russian property buyers have seen the largest increase, Portfolio reports.
Non-EU citizens submitted 2,981 property purchase applications in last year’s real estate market, according to the Central Statistical Office (KSH) and Duna House data, which is an increase of 18% compared to 2022. Non-EU citizens were represented in 3% of Hungarian property sales, which is 2,981 cases, according to statistics published by the Prime Minister’s Office. The most active non-Hungarian purchasers were Chinese, with a total of 647 properties, the majority of which were located in Budapest with the XIII and X districts being the preferred areas.
The legislation requires a special government permit for foreigners to buy property in Hungary. However, it is possible for some without a permit from the relevant government office in the capital or county, but only citizens of the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland can do so in Hungary this way. Of the nationalities within the EU, German, Dutch and Austrian citizens remain the most active in the domestic property market according to Duna House surveys, says Károly Benedikt, head of PR and analysis.
Russian house buyers increased last year in the real estate market
Among the nationalities affected by war, the activity of Russian buyers increased in 2023 compared to the previous year, while the acquisition of property by Ukrainian citizens decreased by 7% compared to 2022. Despite the decrease, while in 2022 the Ukrainians were the fourth most active group in Hungarian real estate, in 2023 they took the third place with a 5% presence. The majority of Ukrainians preferred the IX district of the capital, but Nyíregyháza was also popular among them.
Based on the number of applications submitted, Russian citizens were the second largest purchasers of real estate in the country as a whole, applying for permission to purchase real estate 16% more in 2023 compared to 2022.
The majority of Russian citizens buy luxury properties for investment purposes. As for Chinese buyers, the proportion of home buyers has also decreased, with more people buying investment properties with a living room plus one or two bedrooms.
“As for the capital, the downtown area of Pest is a popular location for foreign investors, with the 13th district leading the way in terms of new developments”, Benedikt added. Properties outside Budapest were also in demand, with Pest County being still popular in the real estate market, but Komárom-Esztergom County saw almost four times as many applications for permits from other countries last year than the year before.
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- Russians and Chinese treat Hungary’s property market as an investment – Read here
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Russia seeks to play friendly football match in Budapest amidst isolation
On June 7, in an article analysing the Hungarian national team, Nemzeti Sport reported that the Russian Football Union (RFU) had contacted the Hungarian Football Association (MLSZ), as they wanted to book a preparation match for the Russian national team.
Russia wants to play in Hungary
In Friday’s edition of Nemzeti Sport, in a two-column article on the Hungarian national team’s preparations, there was a small framed text about the Russians’ desire to play a preparation match in Hungary. There is no news about a date or the MLSZ’s reaction.
According to 444.hu, since the outbreak of the Ukraine war in February 2022, the Russian team has played eight away matches due to their exclusion from UEFA competitions. These matches were held in the following countries:
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- Uzbekistan
- Iran
- Egypt
- Qatar
- Turkey (opponent: Kenya)
- Belarus
Despite their isolation, the Russian team has not lost a match since September last year, with a record of four wins and two draws. What is more, they have not conceded a goal in their last three games, scoring 16. Notable victories include an 8-0 win against Cuba and 4-0 wins against Belarus and Serbia, the latter being a significant achievement against a European Championship participant.
In the spring, Russia played Serbia in Moscow, while Crvena Zvezda hosted Gazprom-sponsored Zenit in Belgrade, with fans displaying Russian flags and anti-EU and NATO symbols. Zenit plans to host a mini-tournament this summer, inviting Crvena Zvezda, and possibly Ferencváros, given Gazprom’s involvement with the club.
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