BUDAPEST: Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to Budapest on Tuesday, showing the world he still has a friend in Europe in Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban despite East-West tension over Ukraine.
Though Putin can count on some support in Bulgaria, Slovakia, Greece and Italy, Orban is unquestionably his closest ally despite gaining prominence as a strong anti-Russian and anti-communist leader in the last days of communism in the 80s.
Fears that tough-talking Orban is increasingly cosying up to Putin threw some 2,000 people into the street Monday evening to protest against the Russian leader's first visit to Budapest since 2006,
"We resent Orban making a fool of Hungary by inviting Putin here to do secret deals while there is a war next door in Ukraine," Marton Gulyas, one of the organisers, told AFP.
Shunned by most European leaders in recent months due to events in Ukraine and rights issues in Russia, Putin made a one-day trip to Budapest to lay wreaths to fallen soldiers and discuss gas supply and nuclear energy deals.
"This trip is clearly more important for Putin than for Orban," analyst Andras Racz of the Finish Institute for International Affairs told AFP.
"Putin can demonstrate to other Western countries that he has an ally who is an EU and NATO member, that EU unity is not that strong after all," he added
The analyst said Hungary's allies are worried that as a NATO member it is strengthening its alliance with Russia in spite of the conflict in neighbouring Ukraine.
Hungary supported EU sanctions against Russia over Ukraine in the past year, but has been vocal about their negative impact.
At a joint press conference with Putin, Orban described the sanctions as "very harmful" for both sides.
He also pleaded for closer ties with Moscow, saying he was "convinced that we must establish good relations between the EU and Russia".
Putin's trip followed a visit by Orban to Moscow last year and comes as Russia is due to finance the expansion of Hungary's sole nuclear plant with a 10 billion-euro ($12-billion) loan.
The leaders also discussed a new flexible long-term gas supply agreement, as the previous deal expires this year and Hungary relies heavily on Russian gas.
"We value our reputation as a reliable supplier of energy resources in Europe and in Hungary," Putin said.
Hungary's Foreign Minister Pater Szijjarto over the weekend called Putin's visit decisive for the country's energy security.
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