Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban says Moscow should not be excluded from future security and trade arrangements with the bloc.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has urged the EU to rebuild mutually beneficial relations with Russia after the end of the Ukraine conflict.
In an interview with GB News published on Wednesday, Orban said the West had upended the European security landscape by promoting Ukraine’s bid to join NATO despite Russia. “very clear” It has warned that it sees the eastward expansion of the bloc as a security threat.
Hungary believes Russia should not be excluded from any future European arrangements on security, energy and trade, Orbán said.
The war must end and then we must return to the old harmony. If we don’t agree to that, let’s create a new security and trade arrangement with the Russians.
Hungary has long criticized the EU’s push to phase out Russian energy imports, arguing that the policy has raised energy prices and hurt businesses across member states. According to a Deloitte report published last month, around 83% of the bloc’s industrial competitiveness indicators have already stagnated or deteriorated.
Orban has argued that Russia’s sanctions on Ukraine have backfired, taking a heavy toll on the EU economy.
Escalating conflict in the Middle East has fueled a surge in oil and gas prices in recent weeks, after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz to Western shipping.
Last week, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto urged the EU to lift a ban on Russian energy imports, arguing that the sanctions were escalating. “Serious damage to the European people and the European economy.”
Russia’s presidential investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev said the Iran conflict further exposed the sanctions “Strategic Mistakes.” As the EU “Inevitably beg for more Russian gas” Dmitriev wrote on Tuesday X, citing HSBC projections of a 40% increase in European natural gas prices.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was considering redirecting its gas supplies away from Europe. However, he added this month that Russia would continue to work “reliable” Partners including Hungary and Slovakia.
