Putin in the first handshake with the European Union leader since the start of the invasion of Ukraine – Politico

Russian President Vladimir Putin shook hands with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in China on Tuesday — the first photographed handshake between the Russian president and an EU leader since Moscow launched its massive invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

According to what was reported by a Russian government news agency TASS“Hungary has never sought to confront Russia,” Orban told Putin. “In fact, the opposite is true: Hungary has always pursued the goal of building and expanding the best means of communication.”

“It is very important that we have the opportunity to exchange views not only on bilateral relations, but also on the situation in the world and in Europe with one of the EU countries – with Hungary in this case,” Putin said, adding: “We know that our positions do not coincide.” Always, but the opportunity to exchange views is, in my opinion, always very important.

The meeting was held at a two-day forum on Tuesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative – the brainchild of Chinese President Xi Jinping – where Orban and Putin discussed cooperation in transporting natural gas and crude oil as well as nuclear energy.

The Hungarian leader has and has built a close personal relationship with Putin over the years Slow to condemn Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine as well as maintaining a Russia-friendly stance in the conflict.

In the spring, a senior official in Kiev warned that a series of deals strengthening energy ties between Hungary and Russia would only prolong the war in Ukraine. “If you watch the video in which the Russians behead a Ukrainian soldier, the Hungarians are paying for the knife,” Oleg Ostenko, economic adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, told Politico.

Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer She was criticized for meeting with Putin in Moscow In the spring of 2022, shortly after the Russian leader launched his all-out attack on Ukraine.

This story has been updated.