MOSCOW

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on the sidelines of the ongoing Belt and Road forum in Beijing.

Opening the meeting, Putin said despite the current geopolitical conditions when possibilities for maintaining contacts and developing relations are limited, Russia manages to preserve and build ties with many European countries including Hungary. He was referring to strained relations with the West over Moscow's "special military operation" in Ukraine.

"Of course it is important to exchange of views with one of the EU countries, Hungary, not only about bilateral ties but also about the situation in the world. I know that on many issues our positions do not coincide, but believe it is important to exchange of views nevertheless," he said.

Putin said Russian-Hungarian trade turnover increased by 80% last year, but dropped by 35% in the first seven months of this year, urging Orban to think of ways to improve the situation.

For his part, Orban said since 2009 he has held 13 meetings with Putin but "there has never been such a difficult meeting as this one."

"We have never been in such a grave situation. Hungary has never wanted to confront Russia, Hungary's goal has always been to build and expand contacts with Russia and we managed to do it at some stage," he emphasized.

However, he added, due to Russia's military operation in Ukraine and sanctions relations were deeply damaged.

"You know Hungary, you know Hungary's capabilities, we are doing everything to save what can be saved. We managed to save many things, because you know, no one likes when what they built is being destroyed," Orban said.