Zsolt Törőcsik: The usual Friday morning radio interview has been cancelled, and instead we’re talking at the airport at around 4 a.m. Where are you leaving for?
The plan is to arrive: not just to leave, but to arrive in Moscow – something which, because of the war, isn’t as easy as it used to be. We have to make a big detour, so we have to leave at 4 a.m. so that we can get there in time for the negotiations scheduled for this morning. Today we’ll be negotiating with the Russian president.
What will you be discussing, what’s the topic and purpose of today’s talks?
There is a goal: from a Hungarian perspective, the aim of the negotiations is to continue to secure Hungary’s energy supply – which means gas and oil. Hungary receives gas and oil from Russia via pipelines. This is a major struggle, with large price fluctuations across Europe, but prices are constantly rising. This is putting pressure on households and on the economy throughout Western Europe. Hungary currently has the lowest energy prices in Europe. This is because we have access to cheap Russian oil and gas – which is cheap compared to international prices. As you’re aware, the Americans have imposed sanctions on Russian energy companies. We were in Washington not so long ago, in order to get Hungary exempted from these sanctions. We succeeded in that, which is great. Now all we need is gas and oil, which we can purchase from the Russians; so I’m going there to ensure that Hungary’s energy supply is secured at an affordable price for the winter and the coming year.
Events related to peace have intensified greatly over the past week. Will this be discussed during your talks with President Putin?
It will be difficult to avoid.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
