Hungary’s foreign minister open to meeting Lavrov if topics for discussion arise

Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán said she is ready to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov if specific topics emerge for discussion. She made the statement in an interview with the portal ValaszOnline.

According to the Hungarian minister, Russia remains an important regional player, and Budapest therefore intends to maintain pragmatic relations with Moscow. Anita Orbán clarified that if there are issues to discuss, a meeting at the level of foreign ministers is entirely possible.

On May 11, Orbán stated that Hungary would not support anti-Russian sanctions if they ran counter to the country’s interests. She also clarified that Budapest intends to avoid using its veto right until the last possible moment.

The minister also emphasized that Hungary’s new government expects to develop open and mutually beneficial relations with Russia, which, in her words, plays an important role in Europe.

For his part, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said that Hungary would have a basis for building balanced relations with Russia on the condition that it maintains the line of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán on energy and does not begin supplying weapons to Ukraine.