The Hungarian government pursues an independent foreign policy and does not require permission from the European Union to hold talks with Russia.

Axar.az reports that this was stated by Hungarian Foreign and Trade Minister Péter Szijjártó in response to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's statement that Prime Minister Viktor Orbán visited Moscow without the consent of EU leaders.

"We do not need permission from Brussels, Berlin, or anyone else to participate in negotiations abroad. Whether Brussels likes it or not. It does not matter to us. We pursue a sovereign foreign policy, and our decisions are determined by national interests," the Foreign Minister wrote on his Facebook page.