Russia-Hungari reports deepened

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits Hungary on October 30th to discuss co-operation in the field of energy.

He will be expected by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who insists on easing sanctions on Russia on the European Union, imposed after annexing the Crimean Peninsula in Ukraine.

Putin and Orban oppose Western liberal values.

“During the talks, the parties will discuss a wide range of Russian-Hungarian co-operation issues, primarily in the trade and economic sector, then cultural and humanitarian”, the Kremlin media service said.

Hungary has largely relied on Russia for natural gas supply, as well as a 10 billion-euro credit line for the country's only nuclear station.

A familiar source with the visit told Reuters that the issue of the “Turkish gas pipeline,” expected to pass through Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Slovakia, will be the subject of discussions between Orban and Putin.

Hungary ) whose gas contract with Russia expires in 2021 ʹ currently receives Russian gas in the pipelines passing through Ukraine. That particular gas transport contract Kyiv-Moscow expires on December 31st.

Although Hungary as an EU member, sometimes protects Russia within the 28-member bloc, it has never vetoed sanctions against Moscow.