Orban: "We should not think about Putin, but about ourselves"

Orban said in an interview with the French TV channel LCI that "Russians only understand the language of force," so dialogue with Moscow should be conducted exclusively from a position of strength.

"Right now, Europe is weak, so we need the Americans. But in the long term, Europe must become stronger," he stressed, adding that only a strong Europe will be able to conclude a strategic agreement with Russia.

Orban also noted that Europeans should think first of all about their own interests:

"We should not think about Putin, but about ourselves. We do not measure Europe through the figure of Putin. We have our own interests. We must be strong - both with Russia and against it. The President of Russia is the President of Russia. If he wants to come to Hungary, he will be received with all the necessary honors."