EU’s Orban and ally Putin cement closer ties

Report of a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Hungary on the 2 February 2017 for talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Euro|Topics wrote: 'Vladimir Putin visited Budapest on Thursday. His talks with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán focussed on the controversial expansion of Hungary's only nuclear power plant in Paks, Russian oil and gas deliveries to Hungary and anti-Russian sentiment in the EU. The Hungarian media took widely diverging views of the Russian president's visit'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Europe’s radioactive embrace http://www.europeansources.info/record/europes-radioactive-embrace/

Politico, 03.02.17: Russia’s nuclear attack on Europe http://www.politico.eu/article/russias-nuclear-attack-on-europe/

ESO: Background information: Russia: EU prolongs economic sanctions by six months http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-eu-prolongs-economic-sanctions-by-six-months-2/

Hungary: Government: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: News, 02.02.17: The international political situation favours the development of Hungarian-Russian relations http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/news/the-international-political-situation-favours-the-development-of-hungarian-russian-relations

Politico, 03.02.17: Why Putin needs Orbán http://www.politico.eu/article/why-vladimir-putin-needs-viktor-orban-russia-hungary/

Euronews, 02.02.17: Hungary's Orban warmly welcomes Russian President Putin http://www.euronews.com/2017/02/02/budapest-s-warm-welcome-for-russian-president-putin

Sputnik International, 02.02.17: Anti-Russia Sanctions Result in $6.5Bln Loss in Hungary-Russia Turnover - Orban https://sputniknews.com/politics/201702021050284694-russia-hungary-orban-sanctions-gaz/

Sputnik International, 02.02.17: Russia Ready to Fully Finance Construction of Hungary's Paks NPP - Putin https://sputniknews.com/business/201702021050285573-russia-hungary-npp/

Euro|Topics: Debates, February 2017: Putin a welcome guest in Budapest? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/173844/putin-a-welcome-guest-in-budapest

Deutsche Welle, 03.02.17: [Opinion]: Putin and Orban, or the return of political pragmatism http://dw.com/p/2WwkT

Euro|Topics: Debates, August 2017: How close are Orbán and Putin? http://www.eurotopics.net/en/185234/how-close-are-orban-and-putin

ESO: Background information: Commission clears investment in construction of Paks II nuclear power plant in Hungary, March 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/commission-clears-investment-in-construction-of-paks-ii-nuclear-power-plant-in-hungary/

Carnegie Europe: Strategic Europe, 29.08.17: Putin’s Man in Hungary, Putin’s Man in Germany http://carnegieeurope.eu/strategiceurope/72934?lang=en

---