Putin in Budapest? Orban: This is not a good time to visit

2026-01-05 18:28
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2026-01-05 18:28
This is not a good time for Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Hungary, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said during Monday's press conference. He also commented, among others: Budapest's attitude towards the European Union and US intervention in Venezuela.


– This is not a good time for Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit Budapest because there are no bilateral issues to discuss, Orban said. US President Donald Trump announced in October that he would hold talks with Putin in Budapest, but the meeting ultimately did not take place.
Hungarian Prime Minister However, he announced a possible visit to the country by a “high-ranking American politician”, without specifying who he had in mind.
Orban stressed that Hungary must maintain good relations with the United States, China, Russia, the Arab world and the Turkish world. – I imagine our future in the European Union, with a sovereign foreign policy and a sovereign economic policy – he added.
Answering the question whether Hungary could follow Great Britain's footsteps and leave the EU, he said that “The British decision was brave because the country decided to restore full sovereignty“But everything bad in Brussels would not have happened if the British had stayed. However, Hungary is not such a large country and a nuclear power that the British decision would be suitable for us, so he would not advise Hungary to do it,” Orban pointed out.
– Maybe there will be no need to leave the EU, because it will fall apart on its own – he added.
The Hungarian Prime Minister also commented on Washington's intervention in Venezuela, as a result of which the local president, Nicolas Maduro, was deported to the United States to stand trial with his wife in an American court. In Orban's opinion, the event may have a “positive impact on global energy markets.”
– What is important for Hungary is that The United States, together with Venezuela, will, according to my estimates, control 40-50 percent. world oil reserves. This is a force that can already significantly influence energy prices on global markets. I see a good chance that as a result of conquering Venezuela, Hungary will experience a more favorable global energy situation, Orban said.
– I hope this is the end of the narco-regime in Venezuela – noted the Hungarian Prime Minister.
Jakub Bawołek from Budapest (PAP)
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