Orbán has made it clear that he opposes EU sanctions against Russia and given that the extension of sanctions requires a unanimous vote, Merkel has allegedly expressed interest in speaking with Orbán in person about this and other isues, Die Welt added.
Hungary’s new “Opening to the East” policy and increased dependency on Moscow, which includes facilitating the construction of the South Stream gas pipeline and an intergovernmental agreement with Russia on the construction of two new blocks at Paks, has caused much concern in the West and led Hungarian opposition members to refer to Orbán as “Putin’s little brother”. Merkel expressed her dissatisfaction with Hungary’s pro-Russian diplomacy earlier this year, and some say she influenced a slow down at Hungary’s Audi plant in October.
