A few weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine, Viktor Orban visited Vladimir Putin in Moscow. While Putin’s other meetings with western leaders were tense and adversarial, the atmosphere between the Hungarian prime minister and Russian president was almost jovial.
Orban’s government was in the midst of a confrontation with the rest of the EU over accusations that it is undermining democracy and the rule of law. “Difficult times, but we are in very good company,” remarked Orban at the closing press conference, drawing a laugh from Putin. The Hungarian, who is now the longest-serving leader in the EU, boasted of his many meetings with Putin. “I’m not planning to leave,” he chuckled. “I have good hopes that for many years we can work together.”
