The Russian-Hungarian talks will focus on energy and the economy – Daily News Hungary

Russian-Hungarian talks scheduled for Tuesday will focus on energy and economic issues that Hungary considers priorities, such as the extension of the bilateral long-term gas supply contract signed in September, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said. .

“In the current situation, the bigger the scope of the contract, the better it is for Hungary,” the Foreign Ministry quoted Szijjarto as saying.

The talks will also focus on progress in the modernization of the Paks nuclear power plant, the food and space industry, and cooperation in air and rail transport, he said.

Tomorrow’s summit, the twelfth such meeting between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be “the most important yet, given the tense European situation”, Szijjártó said.

The minister said that the resolution of tensions between Russia and the European Union by diplomatic means was in the strategic interest and security of Hungary.

“Historically, Central Europe has always lost in conflicts between West and East,” he said.

Orbán has already consulted with French President Emmanuel Macron, who currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, he said.

Meanwhile, Szijjártó noted that

Hungarian-Russian economic cooperation had its most successful year in 2021.

“Plans are already underway to ensure that in 2022 Hungarians will continue to benefit from the government’s foreign policy, which respects its commitments to its allies but values ​​fruitful bilateral relations with Russia and other countries,” did he declare.

Alongside the summit, which will start at noon Central European time, Szijjártó is due to meet his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov.