The United States is concerned about the relationship between Hungary and Russia, the American embassy in Budapest said in a statement. The embassy calls the meeting of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Beijing earlier this week a ‘disturbing decision’.
EPA – Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Orbán and Putin met on Tuesday on the sidelines of the summit on China’s Belt and Road Initiative, also known as the New Silk Road. It was the first meeting between Putin and an EU leader since Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer went to Moscow in April 2022 to confront Putin over his invasion of Ukraine.
But Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán has never hidden his attraction to Putin. He repeatedly blocked European sanctions against Russia. He also obstructed arms deliveries to Ukraine through Hungarian territory for a long time. “Hungary never wanted to confront Russia,” Orbán told Putin on Tuesday. ‘Hungary has always wanted to expand contacts.’
The US ambassador to Budapest, David Pressman, left office on Tuesday message on social media about Orbán’s handshake with Putin. “Hungary’s leader chooses to stand with a man whose forces are uniquely among our allies responsible for crimes against humanity in Ukraine. While Russia bombs Ukrainian citizens, Hungary advocates for business relations.”
Maarten Albers
2023-10-20 09:22:30
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