Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has sparked controversy within the European Union (EU) by personally congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on his recent “re-election,” despite widespread condemnation of the election process.
Brussels had previously criticized the Russian election for taking place in a restricted political environment and condemned the organization of “elections” in the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine as violations of international law. EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell stated the death of opposition figure Alexei Navalny and denounced what he termed as “systematic repression” in Russia.
Orbán’s congratulatory message to Putin potrays Hungary’s intention to maintain close ties with Russia, despite Western sanctions aimed at curbing Moscow’s aggression in Ukraine.
Zoltan Kovacs, the Hungarian government’s international spokesperson, noted the importance of dialogue between Hungary and Russia, particularly in challenging geopolitical circumstances.
The timing of Orbán’s message coincides with EU discussions on increasing military support for Ukraine and bolstering the bloc’s defense capabilities against potential Russian aggression.
Orbán’s stance has drawn criticism from EU leaders, with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola refusing to share in the congratulations and Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas dismissing the Russian election as a “special nomination operation.”
The EU leaders also discussed a proposal to utilize frozen assets of the Russian Central Bank to provide military aid to Ukraine. However, the success of the proposal hinges on unanimity, giving Orbán significant influence to potentially block the initiative.
Orbán’s history of leveraging his veto power to extract concessions has drawn comparisons to Russian nesting dolls, with diplomats expressing frustration over his actions.
Orbán’s gesture follows previous instances of controversial engagement with Putin, including a handshake at a conference in Beijing and delays in approving aid for Ukraine and Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
