‘Soros agent’ Donald Tusk clashes with ‘Putin agent’ Orban, as war of words escalates

The latest war of words between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk marked a clear deviation from the historically moderate relations between Budapest and Warsaw. This rift was triggered by Orbán’s refusal to support further European sanctions against Russia, as it built on his energy security, an indication that “geopolitics in Central Europe and much of the EU are changing”.

The ongoing disagreement between these two central European nations fell to drastic lows, as the Polish Prime minister, Donald Tusk wrote in an X post, “If PM Viktor Orbán really blocks European sanctions at a key moment for the war, it’ll be absolutely clear that in this big game for the security and future of Europe, he is playing in Putin’s team, not in ours. With all the consequences of this fact.”

In response, the Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó reacted to the harsh message from Warsaw by saying that PM Tusk was a Soros agent and that Hungary will not pay the price of other people’s wars, “and we won’t allow anyone to put our energy security at risk.”

Hungary, at the centre of the fight, claims that its national interests should supersede European solidarity, especially with regard to energy security and foreign policy. Orbán and his administration have been strong proponents of realpolitik regarding Russia, asserting that engagement, not confrontation, is the path to securing economic stability by securing energy supply from Russia for Hungary. After the Russia-Ukraine war started, the EU and the US imposed sanctions on Russia, which halted energy supplies. Russia also refrained from supplying its energy to take geopolitical leverage. This disruption has not only profoundly impacted the European economies such as Germany, the UK, and France but also caused significant political instability.

Fearing the implication, Hungary does not want to suffer the same by siding with the EU and is more concerned about its own energy supply which is necessary for its population and economy. This stance, however, places Hungary at odds with Poland, which has remained one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters since the Russian-Ukraine war began and sees Orbán’s position as undermining European unity.

Especially, Tusk’s remarks on Orbán catch the eye, because of the historical partnership established between the two nations. Poland and Hungary, the two members of the Visegrád Group, have often coordinated their actions within the EU framework, especially regarding national sovereignty and opposition to Brussels’ federalist trends. But the war in Ukraine has unveiled the fragility of this alliance.

Hungary’s Stand

While Poland has aligned itself with an unwaveringly anti-Russian policy, Hungary continues advocating for peace negotiations and avoiding those policies that are deemed to impact negatively on Hungary’s domestic interest, especially its heavy dependence on Russian energy. It supported a “sanction-free” relationship from the very start of this conflict with Russia. Orban also shares a very cordial relationship with Putin, mush to the disdain of other western powers who want him to delink Hungary from Moscow, something Orban is not inclined towards.

Apart from a cordial relationship Hungary also has serious trade interests with Russia. According to available data, Hungary primarily imports crude oil from Russia, with over 65% of its crude oil coming from Russia via the Druzhba pipeline; in 2022, Hungary imported around $2.39 billion worth of crude petroleum from Russia, representing a significant portion of its total oil imports. Any disruption in the supply can cause a huge economic crisis and high inflation which will have a direct effect on Hungarians. Hungary is more concerned about its own national interests just like any other nation.

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Hungary’s position, as reiterated by Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, is that it refuses to “pay the price of other people’s wars.” This sentiment resonates with a segment of the Hungarian public that views the conflict as a matter primarily concerning Ukraine, Russia, and the Western powers rather than Hungary itself. However, Tusk and many in Poland see Orbán’s stance as playing into Vladimir Putin’s hands.

Hungary is seen as weakening the collective response against Russian aggression by blocking further EU sanctions and opposing measures that would support Ukraine. Yet states are the actors in International politics that “drive” for the “maximization of their own interests” rather than the “maximization of the interests of others.” Hungary’s stance on the situation should be seen as “Rational Behaviour of a state” rather than taking the side of Russia.

In a broader sense, this diplomatic row signals a wider realignment in the European Union. Under Tusk, Poland has tended to position itself as a significant player in the politics of the Old Continent at large, closely aligning with the mainstream of the EU and NATO. Hungary, meanwhile, persists on a seemingly unique course at odds with Brussels but prioritizes national interests against broader collective EU strategies. This may lead to further clashes in the future with serious repercussions if things go awry. Either way like a true nationalist Orban is in no mood to cow down to the whims of western powers and compromise the interests of his own countrymen, he is ready to take on anyone that comes between Hungary and its national interests.