Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has said he asked Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin how Russia would react to a potential EU decision to use frozen Russian assets and that he received a promise that Russia would take Hungary's protest into account on this matter.

Source: European Pravda, citing Hungarian pro-government outlet Mandiner

Details: Orbán said on a plane en route to Brussels that he has written a letter to Putin asking about Russia's response to a potential EU decision to use Russian assets for a "reparations loan" to Ukraine and whether Putin would consider the positions of individual member states.

According to the Hungarian prime minister, he has received a response indicating that Russia's reaction "would be strong" and that it would take into account the positions of individual countries on the matter.

Orbán reiterated that Hungary does not support the use of frozen Russian assets in the EU, as this would constitute "a new level of escalation".

He also complained on X (Twitter) that the EU has "stripped Hungary of its rights" and violated the principle of "loyal cooperation" in the sanctions debate, and that he does "not consider the principles of loyal cooperation to be binding" on Hungary.

According to Mandiner, Orbán quipped that his favourite things in Brussels are "chocolate, the main square of the city, but most of all – leaving".

Background:

• On 12 December, European Union ambassadors approved a decision to freeze Russian assets held in Europe for an indefinite period. Orbán criticised this decision.
• Commenting on a social media post in which Orbán criticised the decision, Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called him "Russia's most valuable frozen asset in Europe".
• EU leaders are expected to discuss approving a "reparations loan" to Ukraine that would use Russian assets this week. Although there is a qualified majority in favour, the decision remains in doubt due to Belgium's opposition over fears of legal consequences of such a move.

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