Hungary's Treachery: Orbán's Dangerous Dance with Putin

Orbán’s Hungary: A willing puppet of Putin, undermining European unity and security, spreading Kremlin propaganda, and blocking crucial sanctions against Russia. Europe must act decisively.

Hungary's Prime Minister, Viktor Orbán, has transformed from an initially staunch anti-Russian leader into one of Vladimir Putin's most reliable allies in Europe. This dangerous pivot poses a severe threat to European security and undermines the democratic principles that the European Union stands for.

Orbán’s relationship with Russia began to shift in November 2009 when he met Putin at a United Russia party congress in St. Petersburg. This encounter marked a drastic change in Orbán's stance. By 2010, Orbán, newly elected as Prime Minister, had initiated Hungary's "Eastern Opening" policy, aimed at strengthening economic ties with Russia and China. This was a significant departure from Hungary's traditional alliances and an alarming shift towards authoritarian regimes.

In 2014, Hungary signed a deal with Russia for the construction of the Paks 2 nuclear power plant, a €12.5 billion project largely financed by Russian loans. This deal deepened Hungary's financial and energy dependency on…