The political scientist answered under what conditions Orban can humiliate Putin

Over the past two years, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban visited Russia quite often, where he met with Vladimir Putin. At the same time, the politician is establishing cooperation with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

He can be called an “Olympic geopolitical split”, because he is trying to sit on several chairs at the same time. However, political scientist Alexey Buryachenko told 24 Channel that he could force Orban to humiliate the head of the Kremlin.

Everything will be decided by frozen funds

The political scientist noted that he could not remember a single country except Hungary, which:

• being in the EU puts a spoke in everyone's wheels;
• in NATO flirting with the USA and Turkey;
• directs the internal vector towards a clear autocracy, keeping the media under full control;
• as in democratic Europe, but receives raw materials and other bonuses from Russia and strives to become a full-fledged partner in the EU for China .

The Hungarian Prime Minister is unlikely to break off relations with Russia. After all, China’s promises are a strategic prospect, and it is possible to receive resources and financial support from the Kremlin today.

Therefore, I don’t think Orban will be interested in breaking or reducing the level of relations with Putin’s Russia, Buryachenko suggested.

However, if you told a politician about the return of all frozen funds from the EU to Hungary, he would humiliate Vladimir Putin with all possible epithets, moreover, on live television, and show his involvement in democratic values.

What drives Orbán's policies

Political scientist explained that Viktor Orbán's strategy as an authoritarian the leader of a small country is to receive additional subsidy money from anyone. Find it in Russia or China – great. The USA will help – also not bad.

However, the “game” will soon end, since Europe is on the verge of serious internal transformations and changes. Probably, after the elections to the European Parliament, the right to vote of some countries will be abolished, at least on strategic and security issues within the EU.

That is, already by key issues, Hungary will not be able to receive bonuses from the EU in the form of “payoffs” and other external partners. Orban is already thinking about how to transform himself in response,” explained Alexey Buryachenko.

Firstly, negotiations with China opened up access to direct investment. Secondly, negotiations with Vladimir Zelensky made it clear how Orban is useful to Ukraine and vice versa.

Xi's visit to Europe: who he met

• Chinese leader Xi Jinping visited Europe for the first time in 5 years. He began his working tour in France, where he met with Emmanuel Macron. The main topics are trade relations between the EU and China and the war in Ukraine.
• Already on May 7, the President of China visited Serbia. During the meeting, a free trade agreement was signed.
• Also on May 9, Xi made his first visit to Hungary, which coincided with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries. Viktor Orban personally met him at the Budapest airport.