The Hungarian government has formalized an agreement with Russia aimed at expanding bilateral economic, trade, energy, and cultural connections. The deal was signed in December 2025 by Hungary’s Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó and Russia’s Health Minister Mikhail Murashko in Moscow.
Details of the Agreement
The 12-point plan, which has not been previously published, outlines significant collaboration in several key areas:
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Energy – Joint projects in oil, gas, and nuclear sectors, along with the construction of new power plants and hydrogen initiatives.
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Trade – Efforts to reverse the downward trend in bilateral trade, which has been affected by European Union sanctions.
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Education – Increased emphasis on teaching the Russian language, importing teachers from Russia, mutual recognition of qualifications, and student exchanges.
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Culture and Sports – Exchange programs, collaboration in circus arts, and plans for joint sports events in 2026-2027.
Political Context
The meeting in Moscow was part of the 16th session of the Russian-Hungarian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, which has been active since 2005. The previous session took place in September 2024, following a hiatus since November 2021, coinciding with the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
As Hungary approaches parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12, opposition candidate Péter Magyar has criticized Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, accusing him of “blatant betrayal” due to his close ties with the Kremlin.
Response from Budapest
Szijjártó defended Hungary’s cooperation with Russia, stating, “Bilateral cooperation is guided by national interests, not by any pressure from biased liberal mainstream media. Keep up your biased work!” in response to inquiries from Politico.
Hungary has signed a comprehensive agreement with Russia to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including energy and education. This development occurs against a backdrop of political scrutiny ahead of upcoming elections in Hungary.