Hungarian Intel...

As was confirmed now:

Update: this was fake. 

Massive Demonstrations...

 ... in Budapest. No, not tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands--watch videos on X, gigantic. 

Good for you, Hungary. Your future, preservation of indigenous culture and people, sanity and prosperity based on true sovereignty is not in dying EU, it is with new world of BRICS.

France Has Been Warned...

First Petr Tolstoy, now no less than Mr. Nebenzya:

UN, March 22 — RIA Novosti. Paris should keep in mind that Moscow will consider the French military in Ukraine as a priority target, Russia's permanent representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, said at a meeting of the Security Council. "Planning to send regular troops (to Ukraine. — Ed. An important thing Paris should remember is that they will be seen as a legitimate and even priority target for our army," he stressed.

It is especially funny (for Russians) when receiving these contradicting messages, first from a collection of petulant children in Paris and then from the Big Boss: 

US officials have repeatedly warned Ukrainian military commanders that their attacks on Russian oil infrastructure could trigger global energy price hikes, the Financial Times revealed on Friday. Washington is reportedly worried that this could threaten Joe Biden’s re-election bid. The White House has “grown increasingly frustrated by brazen Ukrainian drone attacks” on Russian refineries, terminals and other oil infrastructure, the British newspaper quoted one of its sources as saying. Washington’s objections come months before a presidential election in the US, where “Biden faces a tough re-election battle this year with petrol prices on the rise, increasing almost 15% this year,” the newspaper noted.

Good Lord! Does Washington establishment know anything beyond elections? Of course, not. They do not have even basic skills in governing, have zero understanding of war, but they sure as hell know how run election campaigns, which is a euphemism to BSing the public into a complete cognitive dissonance and then into stupor, that it loses any resistance to manipulation. And this is not the end of it for the West. A lot of opinions are flying today about Europeans willing to send troops to 404, the main problem which is excluded from the discussion, however, is WHAT troops can, say, France, Poland and Netherlands send to 404? And the issue is not just sending troops there--let's imagine, for the sake of argument, that Paris somehow is able to put together up to 100,000 troops--how are they going to sustain them? Remember Libya? France and UK ran out of precision-guided munitions in three days. And, of course, one needs to feed and replenish ammo stocks for these troops--good luck with that. 

Now, for those who are getting over-excited about prospects of a nuclear war once NATO "official" forces get their asses kicked, which is a probability approaching one (100%), the US will not get involved--in fact, the United States desires  nothing more than seeing a lovely war in Europe, while staying behind Atlantic "ocean wall". Of course, US troops in Europe will be annihilated if it escalates, but by now it is just the matter of speculation. At this stage I am getting sick and tired of European excuses about "we didn't elect" Macron, Scholtz, Meloni et al. Enough, you did elect them, unlike 2020 elections in the US, Macron's victory over Le Pen was a landslide--you cannot fake such a massive gap in elections. Germans tolerated insidious economic and cultural suicide by Merkel regime, which is also responsible for wrecking much of the European economy, as long as Germany lived relatively well--this time is over. There is always a hell to pay for our sins on a global, as opposed to personal, scale. This revelation:

”Nothing terrifies a sitting American president more than a surge in pump prices during an election year,” former White House energy adviser Bob McNally told the FT.

should tell Europeans, granted they even comprehend ramifications, that: 

And don't tell me that I didn't warn you all...

In related news, Victor Orban congratulated Vladimir Putin with reelection and stressed Hungary's desire to increase cooperation with Russia (In Russian). You see how it works between normal people? 

A Magical Angle.

A very basic geography and ONE of the factors which dictate pragmatic or openly pro-Russian position in Slovakia and Hungary. If someone thinks that it is all just an accident--it is not. You can easily find videos of Russian bikers from Night Wolves riding in Slovakia for Victory Day celebration, with St. George ribbons and Red Army flag and you will see many enthusiastic and supportive Slovaks. But here is also a hint, this red angle which is made of borders of Slovakia and Hungary with 404. 

This angle is extremely important because once the deal with 404 will be completed it means what now is viewed by anyone with IQ above room temperature in conservative European circles as a blessing. Why? Because it will be common border between Russia-Hungary-Slovakia. The angle will become triangle. What does it mean strategically? Energy, lots of affordable and reliable energy supply and moving goods. That means a lot of wealth and the direct access, once those areas are pacified, to BRICS with its enormous economies. The key here is Odessa and Transdnistria. you can bet your ass on that Russians will immediately start building some kind of pipelines for energy transfer, from oil, to gas to electricity through whatever remains there in power-lines from the times of Warsaw Pact. 

Hungary automatically means Austria and access to Serbia. The more Russia grows economically, the more gravitational pool she will provide in this region. Russians already begin to live better than most Europeans. They also have way more freedoms and, in the end, the common sense. Look at this family from Canada who moved to Nizhny Novgorod. Both heart-breaking but also inspiring story. 

Read comments under video in Russian--a definition of open arms. Overwhelming support. Again, Russia is an Ark for Western Civilization--creeks will turn to rivers.

Leonkov Doesn't Hold Back.

He gave a very substantive interview to Ukraina.ru, which I strongly suggest anyone who reads this blog to look at. Use Google Translate. Here is the piece which is of utter importance for Russia's strategic planning. No, not just land bridge to Transnistria--this has been discussed often, by yours truly too. But, get a load of this:

Сразу после окончания СВО Запад не сможет воевать с нами. У него нет подготовленной армии, он не накопит нужного количества ресурсов, у него нет планов войны с Россией. У него есть только обрывки домыслов и догадок. Эти три фактора делают войну с НАТО маловероятной. Понятно, что США могут подтолкнуть европейцев к безумным шагам. Но на экономическом и дипломатическом фронте у нас работают специалисты, которые постараются их от этого удержать. И СВО приведет к процессам, которые приведут к расколу Евросоюза и НАТО. Если мы пробьем сухопутный коридор к Венгрии, то на эту ось примагнитится Сербия. А за ней могут пойти Словакия и Румыния, где происходят очень интересные процессы. Восточная Европа начнет откалываться от старушки Европы, которая будет пребывать в сильной депрессии, связанной с экономическим положением. Ведь Европа не терпит поражение не только на восточном фронте, но и на глобальном юге (с Китаем у нее не так все просто).

Translation: Immediately after the end of the Special Military Operation, the West will not be able to fight with us. It does not have a trained army, it will not accumulate the required amount of resources, it has no plans for war with Russia. It only has scraps of speculation and guesswork. These three factors make war with NATO unlikely. It is clear that the United States can push the Europeans to take crazy steps. But on the economic and diplomatic front we have specialists who will try to keep them from doing this. And the NWO will lead to processes that will lead to a split in the European Union and NATO. If we break through a land corridor to Hungary, then Serbia will be magnetized to this axis. And it can be followed by Slovakia and Romania, where very interesting processes are taking place. Eastern Europe will begin to break away from old Europe, which will be severely depressed due to the economic situation. After all, Europe is  defeated not only on the eastern front, but also in the global south (it is not so simple with China).

 

Consider this: Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Serbia have a combined population of roughly 42 million. This is substantial, it is also a promising market--make your own conclusion. As I already stated many times, Russia doesn't need love or obedience, Russia is interested in trade with people who still recognize that there are only two genders. Simple as that. Once the land bridge is built, European structure changes dramatically. Old Europe can go and die.

Have Moscow And Budapest...

... settled the issue of Hungarian enclaves in former Ukraine already? Here is significant interview to Polish resource by former Hungary's MP a day ago. 

The Hungarian government believes that Russia will win the war against Ukraine and therefore avoids sanctions against Moscow, Hungarian politician and former MEP Benedek Jávor told EURACTIV Poland in an interview, adding that Budapest silently hopes there will be a modification of borders in the region.“They [Hungarian government] want to maintain good relations with Russia. They believe Moscow will defeat Ukraine, and there’s a chance for modifying the borders with Ukraine and annexation of the Podkarpackie region,” Jávor said. Asked if this is an “official” plan, he replied negatively but said former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev had openly suggested that after destroying Ukraine, Russia could divide it up between Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Romania.“I heard the Hungarian willingness to stick to this plan during informal talks with government politicians. Orbán hasn’t mentioned it openly,” Jávor said. 

Of course, Victor Orban will not say anything like this openly, but it is implied in contemporary Russian-Hungarian relations.  That fits not only into the pattern of these relations but into a historically firm trend of smaller nations changing their geopolitical orbits around major powers. In Russia's orbit one gets to be assured of energy supply and, under some circumstances, protection, including military one. And then, of course, there is the issue of culture. Russians do not really care what political system or religion one has, as long as it is not hostile and socially and culturally traditional. Hungary fits the bill perfectly. Nobody asks anyone to love Russia. Strictly business and what could be defined as conservative (not in the American sense) values. 

Does Orban believe in miraculous revival of Europe and its culture? I don't think so. Just today, fresh from Hungary.   

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto issued a scathing rebuke of the US ambassador to Budapest on Thursday, asserting that he has no business meddling in the nation’s internal affairs. The minister’s comments came after Ambassador David Pressman, who has represented Washington in Budapest since September 2022, told Politico earlier this week that Hungarian policymakers “continue to push policies endorsed by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.” He was referring to Budapest's opposition to anti-Russia sanctions and support of Moscow’s proposals for a ceasefire. When asked to respond to the statement at a press conference, Szijjarto said, “Nobody can tell us from the outside how to live, so it is of no interest what a citizen of another country – be it an ambassador – thinks about the domestic political processes in Hungary. “We ask for more respect for the Hungarians, even from the ambassador,” he added. It is not Pressman’s “job to interfere in the internal affairs of Hungary,” the minister declared. 

You see, Hungarians can be Russophobic all they want, as long as they maintain reasonable relations, Russians do not care. If that is not enough, Turkiye's Interior Minister has his very interesting (and realistic, I may say) take on the whole US-EU and Turkiye relations:

Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu accused US ambassador Jeffry Flake of trying to “confuse” people in the host nation and told him to get his “filthy hands” off the country. He has previously claimed that Western nations were waging “psychological warfare” to undermine tourism in Türkiye. “I’m telling you very clearly, get your filthy hands off Türkiye. I know clearly what you have done, what steps you have taken, and how you want to confuse Türkiye,” the minister said in a speech on Friday. Soylu claimed the first questions “every US ambassador” arriving in Türkiye was asked were “How can I stage a coup” and “How can I harm Türkiye.” The minister also stated that European nations were “run” by American diplomats.The remarks came a day after the US and several EU nations decided to temporarily shut down their their consulates in Istanbul due to “security considerations.”

I cannot say that he is incorrect. Soylu surely has a point. This trend on many nations having a point will continue, until the whole EU structure collapses. Per US attempts on China. Well, those Washington's "strategists" should sort their clusterfuck out in 404 first, and Russians observe it in genuine amusement.

Is Viktor Orban Due To A "Democratic" Coup d'Etat?

Certainly looks like, because he seem to be not only successful in keeping Hungary warm and cozy, but also well fed and mentally normal. Recall my points about Hungary's position here and here. 

Russian energy giant Gazprom has increased gas supplies to Hungary via the TurkStream pipeline, a Hungarian official confirmed on Saturday. According to Foreign Ministry State Secretary Tamas Menczer, the Russian company stepped up flows to Hungary by 2.6 million cubic meters per day starting Friday and for the rest of August. The extra supplies are being delivered by the TurkStream pipeline that brings gas to Hungary via Serbia. “The Hungarian government had previously decided to purchase some 700 million cubic meters of natural gas in addition to the already contracted volumes,” the official posted in his Facebook account. Menczer added that the nation is currently in talks with Moscow about additional volumes for September. Hungary, which is about 85% dependent on Russian gas, is trying to bolster its reserves before the cold season. Budapest has been strongly opposing calls to introduce EU sanctions on Russian gas imports. The country’s prime minister, Viktor Orban, has also managed to secure an exemption from the bloc’s sanctions on Russian crude oil imports. 

But, of course, we are not simpletons here and we understand that geopolitical significance of all that is much greater than any economic, however important, considerations. Are there forces in Hungary which work against Orban and his government? Absolutely! They are well financed by EU and its intel outlets and they cannot take it not only in geopolitical terms, but also because inevitably Hungary will make a good living as intermediary between those in EU who want to survive and Moscow. And I mean a good living. That hurts the most against the background of a complete economic and mental collapse of Europe and this is just the start. So, is Orban a visionary? In some sense he is. Consider the background:

I will lie if I say that my heart doesn't bleed for simple vulnerable people--it absolutely does--but we live in a real world and thousands of Russian civilians have been killed as a result of criminal policies of European and US governments. There is always a price to pay and seeing Hungary getting what she needs easily (as was predicted) from Russia is, today, tantamount to rubbing salt in the wound. Will they, US and EU, try a coup in Budapest? I am almost 100% positive that they will, especially come the Autumn and Winter, when the whole house of cards will implode. And yes, Russia is not taking this turbine back until it is proven that this turbine is not covered by sanctions, which, of course, it is. As they say--you reap what you sow, and that opens the perspective of Moscow doing something similar to Erdogan operation in 2016, when, rumor has it, he was saved by FSB (or G(R)U). 

But today, it is Hungary getting what she needs from a pivotal country in emerging Eurasian economic and military colossus, and this one is not on the legs of clay. But in the long run, because of proper diplomacy and constant communications with Moscow, Budapest may add territories to Hungary and Viktor Orban will stop being a popular leader, he will become Hungary's legend. Do you think Kremlin doesn't understand that? Of course it does. So does Orban whose bet increasingly looks less and less risky but more and more wise.

Take a Note.

Hungary begins to prepare. 

The Hungarian government has set up a new Defense Council led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban which has been given special decision-making authority, the PM’s press secretary Bertalan Havasi announced on Tuesday. As quoted by Hungarian news agency MTI, Havasi explained that the council was created in response to the military conflict in Ukraine and the ensuing economic crisis in Europe. He also noted that increased pressure from migration had made it necessary to pay special attention to protecting Hungary’s security and sovereignty in the coming years. The council will deal with proposals and reports regarding national security, public safety, border controls, national defense, migrant cases, natural disaster protections, counter-terrorism efforts and defense developments. "The Defense Council is a forum for government political decision-making with special powers, the chairman is the prime minister, and the secretary is the chief national security adviser," Havesi explained.

Now, apart from this news, get this--a very positive, if not to say more--very pro-Hungarian article at Ria by Petr Akopov, titled (in Russian):

Европа еще пожалеет, что не понимала по-венгерски

Which is: Europe will be sorry that it didn't understand Hungarian. It is a remarkable piece, plus, Hungary's Foreign Minister just visited Moscow, for gas talks, with Russia immediately responding that Moscow will provide all Hungary's energy necessities starting from the increased volumes of gas Hungary asked for recently. But...

MOSCOW, July 21. /TASS/. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto on Thursday said he didn’t discuss during his visit to Moscow the possibility of a meeting between his country’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He made the statement at a news conference following a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. "As for the summit, I don't have that mandate," Szijjarto said to a question from a reporter of the Hungarian news agency MTI. My mandate [at the talks in Moscow] applies only to gas purchases."

It is clear that gas issue was just one of the topics discussed in Moscow. Plus, of course, all those pro-forma calls for cease-fire in Ukraine. What was discussed behind closed doors remains, for now, a matter of speculations but we know that is was discussed.

As Was Expected.

Hungary has no problems. 

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Wednesday he is opposed to any EU sanctions on Russian energy, adding his country will accept Moscow’s directive that gas supplies be paid-for in rubles. Hungary will not yield to pressure and will not support restrictions of oil and gas supplies from Russia because this is a ‘red line’ for Hungary, Orban explained, as cited by Reuters.

That also confirms earlier hypothesis that Orban discussed with Vladimir Putin more than just pure economic cooperation but also future security structure in Europe. Plus, of course, if true, which it seems, Hungary may become a "layover" for EU funds to Russia for energy and that will make Hungary very rich. Now, the bunch of chickens in Berlin begins to suspect something:

An immediate ban on imports of Russian oil and gas into Germany is not feasible, Germany's Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Wednesday, although he added he was all in favor of an energy embargo. "If I could follow my heart," there would be a ban on Russian oil and gas in Germany, Lindner said in an interview published by German weekly Die Zeit on Wednesday. An immediate ban on imports of Russian oil and gas, however, is not feasible at present, because it would endanger Germany's economy and social stability, the minister added."We can't be responsible for that," he said. 

Somebody tell those morons in Berlin that the issue is not "immediate ban" but that their Grune energy agenda is a wet dream sold by uneducated frauds to brainwashed and also uneducated (part of) public. Get some, fvcking, real engineers in your government, they may explain to you realities of the energy and global resources. While at it, they may explain how REAL physical economy works. Germany used to have excellent engineers, I am sure some are still around. 

Moscow, meanwhile, states:

If Western countries continue to expel Russian diplomats, Moscow won’t rule out the possibility of severing diplomatic ties with the states concerned, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned on Wednesday. He explained that the recent wave of expulsions threatens continued diplomatic relations.

I think Baltic states are first in line, then Western Europe (some nations) for a demonstration purposes. That, as you might have guessed by now, increases Hungary's "middle man" position even more not just in economic sense but in diplomatic too.

Further, On Hungary.

Here are the Euronews in Russian, sadly couldn't find those in English but many of you know how to use browsers to translate. So, the EU started the procedure to deny Hungary EU's subsidies for "erosion of democracy". 

So, you see? Being largely Christian and not culturally and economically suicidal is now called "erosion of democracy". Sure. But the question remains, what, apart from well-publicized energy and other economic contracts, did Victor Orban discuss with Vladimir Putin in Moscow two months ago behind closed doors. 

It definitely was more than just about energy and economic cooperation but future security architecture and Hungary's role in it. Listen to Orban's reasons.  

Recall that recently I already pointed out that during Soviet times Hungary was a major supplier of the USSR in terms of high value added production which included not only transport but also other serious machine-building components and even radio-electronics. Same was the case, as an example, with Poland which was responsible for a huge share of Soviet Navy's amphibious component, which was built at Poland's shipyards. 

 

You may not know this, but Polish Unitra consumer electronics, their stereo systems of 1970s and 1980s could hold their own against the best West and Asia could throw at them. I know, I used it. 

Same goes for Hungarian Videoton, which was a big player on the consumer and military market. Today Unitra barely exists as a viable company, while modern Videoton is a viable company, but it is also clear that systemic crisis starting from COVID-19 also threw the monkey wrench on any plans and there is now an observable shrinking of the Western markets across the board, the process will only accelerate. And while Poland continues (it will also accelerate) losing its industrial base, Hungary is, certainly, looking at the new possibilities. They saw how Poland lost its major shipbuilding industry and then its competitive electronics. I doubt Hungary wants to repeat that mistake. Just business, nothing personal: No new Warsaw Pact, No new COMECON, just getting wealthy. 

I Wonder...

 ... why Fidesz and Victor Orban again won Hungarian elections in the landslide. Hm. 

Could it be, just guessing here (wink, wink), that he expresses desires of the majority of Hungarians? No way, should be something else... I kid, I kid. I think Orban is a consummate anti-Globalist and nationalist and that really shouldn't surprise us anymore. The world out there, beyond the grasp of globalists is a rather strange and, often, vibrant place. Obviously Hungary is a EU and NATO member, but something tells me that Hungary and, possibly, Slovakia may become the only channel for EU to trade with Russia on Russia's conditions. That means Rubles. I can only speculate what a huge economic benefit for Hungary and Slovakia this may become. 

In related news, I, for the love of God, could have never thought that I will live to see Russian and Pakistani troops participating in joint exercises (and not for once--but regularly) and many Pakistanis expressing friendly feelings towards Russia, not to speak, of course, about growing economic cooperation from energy to weapons, to cultural exchanges. Unbelievable.  But here we are today. 

Per Ukie propaganda and fakes, which all eventually will be debunked, as were many previous ones, here is Bernhard's excellent take:

Gonzalo Lira proves without doubt that four different Ukrainian propaganda clips with different actors were all filmed at the exact same location, a 'battlefield' with several long destroyed Ukrainian tanks --> Propaganda BTFO (video)

Yesterday evening a Ukrainian station showed a video of Ukrainian troops driving through Bucha, north of Kiev, with several 'dead' people lying in the street allegedly 'killed by Russians'. There are two difficulties with these claims:
- One of the dead appears to move his arm: video
- Bucha was declared 'completely liberated' of Russian troops by its mayor on Thursday, March 31. Are we to believe it would take three days for such an 'incriminating' video to come out? Or that those 'dead' were lying there for three days with no one bothering?

But now for people who still worry that Russia "lost" propaganda war in the West, I will reiterate--Russia didn't "lose" anything because at this stage Russians don't give a rat's ass about what Western public thinks. As long as Russians believe in cause, and they overwhelmingly do, not to mention having a level of contempt towards the West unprecedented in the Russian history, it really doesn't matter. West becomes not that important for Russians anyway. It lost its allure long time ago and now that it revealed itself as a traditional mortal enemy of Russians, there is nothing to discuss with anyone there. By West, of course, I mean old classic Western Europe and the US.

About Rumors, Which May Not Be Rumors...

... at all.  I will remind you one thing I wrote last year, while demolishing Valdai Club Timofeev's (lack of) military expertise who, as well as other native Russian "experts" of this kind, RT loves to invite to spread ignorance around. Here is this "thing":

I don't know why "one Ukraine scenario" even enters considerations here? I have no rational explanation to why Timofeev even discusses that. In the end, leave it to Poland, Hungary and Romania to deal with Western Ukraine. That, BTW, may become what would put the final nail into NATO's coffin.

In fact, I am on record about Polish (and other East European) aspirations towards Western Ukraine for years.  In the end, there are Hungarians and Rusins who already beg Victor Orban for protection for more than a year, there is Bukovina where Romania may get some satisfaction from the coming "loss" of Moldavia. So, RT reports:

Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk has questioned, what she has described as, Hungary’s “pro-Russian” rhetoric, suggesting that the desire for “cheap Russian gas” or even a potential land grab could be behind Budapest’s policy over the conflict between Moscow and Kiev. In a lengthy Facebook post, the official claimed that “not even all Russian satellites from the former Soviet Union behave the way Hungary’s authorities do.” She said that Hungary does not support sanctions against Russia, refuses to provide Ukraine with weapons, and even “does not allow weapons from other countries to pass via their territory.” “In fact, they say ‘no’ to everything. A bit more – and Budapest's official rhetoric will be totally pro-Russian. What is this? Want some cheap Russian gas? Or maybe want our Transcarpathia?” Vereshchuk wrote before calling on Budapest to “join the civilized world” and “not to repeat the mistakes of World War II when Hungary made a wrong choice.”

Well, I think it is Ukraine which made a wrong choice, not Hungary who has been keeping much of its army near Ukrainian border for a while. And it goes without saying that Poles remember the original name of the Polish city currently known as Lvov, and it is Lemberg or Lwow.  So, Alex Christoforou makes some announcements (with caveat, obviously) today about this Polish thing.

But Russians have been discussing the possibility of Polish "peace-keeping" (meaning the annexation of what is effectively historic Polish lands) for a while. Ruslan Ostashko altogether states that Biden's upcoming visit to Poland IS about partition of Ukraine, with Poland moving into the Western Ukraine (in Russian). As I, among many, state non-stop (the latest being yesterday when talking to Piero), there is a feeling around that Kremlin itself still contemplates what to do with Banderland (West Ukraine) because Russia doesn't want to get those people on her balance and partition of that land is by far not the worst scenario for Russia. 

As they say, there is no smoke without fire, and I think the probability of Poland getting in is far from trivial. Also, circulation of such let's call them, for now, rumors has a significant military aspect behind them, because Polish Armed Forces are by far not the Russian Army and they follow operation Z very attentively calculating required force and I am sure behind closed doors Polish military people are pretty happy seeing reports of annihilation of large VSU forces, but especially those of Neo-Nazi formations, such as Azov "battalion", who have roots in the Western Ukraine. The more "banderistas" Russians bury, the easier it will be for Polish "peace keepers" to deal with whatever resistance they may encounter in and around Lwow. 

In fact, the whole logic of the conflict dictates these events, including possible partition of what's will be left of Ukraine. In related news, while Western military "experts" (such as this "expert") from NYT continue to spew headlines like this:

I can only imagine the wowser which comes after reading on operations of Russia's AD over such a vast theater once reports will be done after things calm down somewhat. It is something we never saw before. That will rub a lot of salt into already gaping wounds of many Western military "experts". Per Western media low-lives, they have Pulitzers to console themselves for spreading war crimes propaganda and sophomoric lies.

Is Hungary An Example...

...of what pragmatic non-ideological approach to foreign policy should be?  In many respects it is. Victor Orban is a man who cares about his nation's prosperity and stability. Among major prerequisites for that is a foreign policy, which in case of a relatively small nation such as Hungary, serves interests of Hungarian people and business, not some ideological purposes. Apart from Hungary having a contract with Russia's giant Rosatom for new reactors for Hungary's only Paks nuclear power station, Hungary did this now:

Budapest signed a new long-term contract on Monday with Russia’s energy giant Gazprom for gas supplies bypassing Ukraine, Reuters reports. The agreement was sealed by Gazprom CEO Aleksey Miller and Hungarian energy group MVM executives at the Hungarian Foreign Ministry.The deal was signed after Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced last month that Budapest had agreed with Moscow on all the conditions for a new supply contract to take effect from October 1. The minister said that under the new deal, Hungary will buy gas “at a much better price than under the expiring contract,” which was signed in 2020.

You see how simple it is? Be nice to Russia and Russia will pay back in kind, a really win-win situation. Obviously Ukraine went bananas immediately and manifested 404's main trait which is envy, which automatically transforms in hatred for Russia. Ukraine immediately ran to...of course, European Commission and promised to halt all gas transit to Hungary through Ukraine. You see, these miserable people cannot reconcile themselves to the fact that not only they managed in 30 years of Project 404 turn their country into the utter shithole and poorest one at that in Europe. No, they still cannot face the reality of Russians agreeing with them that Russians and Ukrainians "are non-brothers". Russians say fine, let's be non-brothers. Since you are not relatives, plus your "leadership" is a collection of Nazi-sympathizers or sanctimonious ass holes who care only about themselves, get in line and face consequences. 

 

Maria Zakharova pointed out in her Telegram-channel that: 

Когда в следующий раз наши западные партнёры будут отмечать «дни жертв тоталитаризма», кивая в сторону постсоветского пространства, пусть вспомнят, что питательной средой для его становления являются доносы на соседей по случаю зависти.  

Translation: The next time our Western partners celebrate the "days of victims of totalitarianism", nodding towards the post-Soviet space, let them remember that denunciations of neighbors on the occasion of envy are a breeding ground for its (totalitarianism) formation.

 

You can almost feel desperation of 404 and her curators in Europe (and the US), but the issue is extremely simple: Gazprom fulfills all its contractual obligations to European customers. Anything above it or when politics is involved, which is always, either pay more or go and freeze to death. Russia is not a charity, and as Putin is on record Russo-phobia has a price. Yes, the price is steep. But when politics takes precedent over normal mutually beneficial relations, well, what can I say--let them live with the consequences. New possible German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (from German Social Democratic Party) already started the same tired tune: Russia needs to keep Ukrainian transit and that Germany really "cares" about "energy security" of Eastern Europe (in Russian). 

 

What most of German politcos fail to understand, of course, is the fact that Russia is not beholden to Germany or Europe. Considering economic and political dynamics of EU, Russia is already hard at work with rerouting her energy supplies to the East, where there are very many customers hungry for Russian energy and, most importantly, those customers do not give a shit about LGBTQRC4ISR rights, about the "freedom of speech" and other propaganda BS the combined West uses for its nefarious purposes, and will gladly pay for what will be (and is being) rerouted from Europe. The objective of Russia's energy policy is to remove EU from the position of primary energy customer and supply it on the bases "as needed" or as "what is available". US "ministry of truth" is already hard at work:

Russia is pumping a lot less natural gas to Europe all of a sudden — and it is not clear why

Then it goes into the same "Russia is bad" tropes until in the very cellar of the article it gets to a sensible conclusion that: 

Another theory, although analysts consider it somewhat less likely, is that because Gazprom believes Nord Stream 2 will soon be fully operational, it may not need to book further capacity elsewhere.

Generally speaking, one cannot communicate with EU and NATO in normal language anymore and the drifting apart will continue. But Hungary is an excellent example of how bilateral relations can work. As you can see the trend in EU-Russian economic relations is very pronounced:

And compared to volume of trade China alone (I underscore it--alone) and despite a dip in exports in 2019 due to pandemic--the trend here is also obvious, the trade grows. 

This trade also begins to increasingly substitute the trade with EU. Once one considers Russia's trade with Japan, Republic of Korea, Vietnam and other countries in Asia (such as steadily increasing trade with Indonesia as one example), one can get a clear idea of a steady diminishing in importance of Europe for Russia, not to mention the fact of a dramatic, tectonic shift in Russian attitudes toward the combined West which is viewed (correctly) as hostile, decadent, perverted and unattractive. As I said many times--I never experienced such level of contempt towards the West in Russia, even during the Cold War 1.0 it was different. Never. These attitudes do have a bearing on economy in the long run. But Hungary is definitely not covered by these attitudes because of both personality of Victor Orban and bilateral steady relations. In the end, even such an uncomfortable partner (due to Erdogan's expansionist aspirations) as Turkey sees her trade relations with Russia on the level ANY EU nation, including totally confused Germany, can only dream about. 

Turkey pledged its commitment to gradually enhancing commercial relations with one of its top trade partners, Russia, as the two nations look to reach their trade volume target, according to Trade Minister Mehmet Muş. “We want to develop trade with Russia in a balanced way on a win-win basis,” Muş said following his visit to Moscow last week, stressing Turkey's determination to bring the volume of commercial exchange to $100 billion (TL 845.4 billion), a goal set by the leaders of the two states. “We have serious cooperation in the field of energy. We want to expand and shift our cooperation there to different areas of energy,” Muş told Anadolu Agency (AA) Sunday.

$100 billion? Absolutely. As I said, Europe is becoming not that important for Russia and it is all for the better. So, Germany should keep in mind that one day she may wake up and find no good will left in Russia and for that she can blame only herself. Eventually, the transit through 404 will be stopped and this shithole of a nation will exist only on the handouts from those who helped to turn it into what it is today. Germany played and continues to play a huge role in creating this cesspool in the middle of European continent and Russians do keep the score.