The leftist opposition Democratic Coalition (DK) called the Orbán- Putin encounter reminiscent of old communist leaders’ meetings. Attila Ara-Kovács, a foreign affairs speaker for the party, said Orbán spoke against the future of the European Union, while also jeopardising Hungary’s energy independence.

“Orbán signed a nuclear contract which it had kept secret from his own people while putting them into debt with a giant Russian loan. He could not have served Moscow’s interests more,” Ara-Kovács said.

The opposition LMP party said the Orbán-Putin meeting should have aimed at cancelling the Paks upgrade contract. József Gál, a spokesman for the party, told a press conference that the extended long-term gas contracts bring “neither energy security nor energy independence” for Hungarians.

Instead, Hungarians should be spending on insulation, as without it, “we will be heating the streets with Russian gas”.

The radical nationalist Jobbik party said it “welcomed” the affirmation of long-term gas contracts and the fact that Orbán had expressed opposition to sanctions against Russia.

Márton Gyöngyösi, a lawmaker of the party, said it was reassuring that Russia stood behind the Paks upgrade, while it was attacked by the EU. Jobbik supports the project, except for the fact that the contracts have been classified, he said.

The Socialists said not much was made public about the “real” content of the Orbán-Putin talks, which were held behind closed doors.

Tamás Harangozó, deputy leader of the party’s parliamentary group, said the timing of Orbán’s visit was “not coincidental” and that the Socialists “hoped” that the Hungarian premier was not in Moscow to receive “instructions” before the EU summit starting on Thursday.

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