Ildikó Csuhaj: Prime Minister, you’re expecting tough negotiations tomorrow in Washington at the White House with the US president. In light of this, I’d like to ask you about Donald Trump’s statement that you’ve requested an exemption from US sanctions on Russian oil, but that it hasn’t been granted.
All diplomatic negotiations are difficult, but I expect a friendly and easy negotiation.
Does the Prime Minister have a Plan B, or will you follow the plan that Matt Whitaker – the US Ambassador to NATO – asked everyone who hasn’t yet given up Russian oil to follow? Will you follow that schedule?
The fact is, Ildikó, that the issues are serious, but the circumstances may be favourable. This is a serious issue we’re discussing – namely whether Hungary will be able to get others to accept the simple geographical fact that we must be treated differently from other countries in terms of sanctions because we don’t have a seaport. The stakes are high, because if this is accepted, 90 per cent of the Hungarian economy and Hungarian households will be saved. If we can’t get it accepted, then difficult times await both the economy and families. So the stakes are high. But the negotiations won’t be difficult, because I know the President, he knows me, we know the subject, and all we have to do is agree.
So, Prime Minister, do you think that the fact that immunity hasn’t yet been granted means that the matter’s still open? Is it open?
The US president is a businessman; he makes every decision at the right moment. What happened before and after doesn’t matter. Only one thing matters: when the agreement is reached, what will we shake hands on?
Will friendship and diplomacy work, or during the negotiations will the Hungarian government need to make a very serious offer in return? By this I mean, for example, will the American company Westinghouse be able to supply fuel to Paks and take care of storage, or will small modular reactors be on their way?
So if you ask me that question, then the issues to be discussed and debated can be divided into two groups: there are problems that need to be resolved, such as US sanctions on Russian energy; and there are opportunities that need to be exploited. Westinghouse and nuclear cooperation aren’t problems, but opportunities. So we’ll have a proposal – essentially a proposal that’s been discussed up to the point of agreement – on how to increase the scale of US–Hungarian economic cooperation. And there are key sectors in this, one of which is energy. But there isn’t a problem there, the loss isn’t a problem; and this isn’t about finding a way to avert disaster, but about looking forward to a great opportunity for Hungary.
But is there a plan B if US President Donald Trump doesn’t grant the Hungarian government an exemption from sanctions against Russian oil?
We’re playing for a victory.
I have one more question. Even your critics agree that in certain peace negotiations you’re indispensable, Prime Minister. The US president called you before his meeting with Russian president Putin in Alaska. Have you called Russian president Putin, or do you intend to call him, or will you meet with Ukrainian president Zelenskyy?
The last time I spoke to the Russian president on the phone was when it was agreed that the US–Russia peace summit would be held in Budapest. There’s been no need to do so since then. If the need arises, I will of course speak to him. This doesn’t cause me any political or personal problems – I’m not in the same predicament as Westerners who have ruined relations with Russia over the past three years and are now unable to negotiate. Hungary is in a favourable – let’s say flexible – position.
Who’s responsible for the postponement of the Budapest peace summit, whether it will take place at all, and when? Russian president Putin, US president Trump, Zelenskyy, or who?
There will be a peace summit; the venue has been designated and the partners are in place. There will be a Russian–American peace summit in Budapest. There are important issues under negotiation on which no agreement has yet been reached. But negotiations are ongoing.
