Hungary, Budapest – The Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov visited Budapest on May 25. He met with the Hungarian Premier Viktor Orbán and the Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó. The talks were about partnership, Minsk agreements, European sanctions, energy, migration and terrorism.
On Wednesday, May 25, the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Sergueï Lavrov , visited Budapest. He met with his counterpart, Péter Szijjártó, and had been received by the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The two FM discussed several topics. They both agreed to qualify the relation between Russia and Hungary of “good and pragmatical” during their press conference. Few days earlier, Lavrov explained that it is the Russian interest to have a strong European Union as a partner. On Wednesday, Lavrov explained that it is both the interest of Russia and Hungary, that the relation between Brussels and Moscow get better.
“The Russian Foreign Minister’s visit serves Russian, Hungarian and European interests” stressed the Hungarian Minister, before adding that Europe’s competitiveness might only rebuilt with a pragmatic cooperation with Russia. Also, in his opinion, global challenges might be resolved only with a common involvement of the trans-Atlantic community and Russia. Therefore he praised the NATO-Russia Council last meeting, and told he considered it necessary to have another meeting of this Council before the NATO summit in July, planned in Warsaw.
Answering a question during the press conference, Szijjártó told that Hungary is not the “Trojan horse” of Russia within the European Union, and he sees such remarks as coming from people not wanting to see some “too small country” having their own agreements with Russia. Speaking about economy, the Hungarian Minister stressed that both Hungary and Russia are sharing the same will of stopping the decline of the economical balance. Also, it is planned that Hungarian factories will soon enter into service in Russia.
Regarding energy, Szijjártó regretted that Croatia and Romania are not fulfilling their obligations and still did not made the gas connection operational. Both Foreign Minister pledged for more objectivity from the European Union, especially regarding energetic topics. Szijjártó underlined the double standards regarding the gas pipeline, recalling the opposition to the South Stream project due to its avoiding of Ukraine, whereas the North Stream project, also avoiding Ukraine, did not received any objection.
Ukraine sabotaging the EU-Russia relation?
According to Lavrov, Hungary is an important partner for Russia. The Russian involvement in Hungary’s energetic programs such as the nuclear power plant of Paks 2 are a strategical investment for Russia, said the Russian Minister.
Finally, both of the Foreign Ministers talked on the Ukrainian situation. Lavrov explained that for the Russo-European relations to improve, that Minsk agreement have to be respected, also by Ukraine, which has no interest in better relations between Russia and the European Union. Szijjártó recalled that Hungary is opposed to the automatic renewal of the EU sanctions toward Russia, and that Hungary will not let this topic to be discussed without the involvement of the EU’s member states.
