Hungarian Foreign Minister Ready to Meet Russian Counterpart Despite Expulsion of Diplomats

BUDAPEST, September 25. /TASS/. Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orban said she is ready to meet with her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov to discuss bilateral relations, but the schedule of her participation in the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly does not include such an option.

She told the Index news portal that although she has not spoken to Lavrov yet, diplomatic relations between the two nations continue "as normal."

When asked whether she was ready to meet with the Russian minister, the top Hungarian diplomat replied: "Of course."

She also emphasized that despite Hungary’s recent decision to expel ten Russian embassy staffers from the country, "diplomatic relations continue."

Moscow described the move as unfriendly, with Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov saying that it will not be left unanswered. At the same time, he added that Russia was interested in preserving and developing its ties with Hungary.