Viktor Orban Meets Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Challenging EU Unity

Fri Nov 28 2025 22:45:04 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's recent meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin highlights his close ties with Moscow and his defiance of EU sanctions amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

In a move likely to aggravate tensions with his European allies, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as discussions about peace in Ukraine unfold. Known for his pro-Russian stance, Orban aims to secure energy supplies for Hungary while disregarding EU pressure to cut ties with Moscow. The meeting is contextualized within Hungary's upcoming elections and Orban's push against EU policies on Russian energy imports.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has met President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, days before Russia holds talks on a US push to end the war in Ukraine.

Orban, seen as one of Putin's closest allies in Europe, has consistently angered his NATO and EU allies by undermining solidarity against Russia.

We are aware of your balanced position on the situation in Ukraine, Putin told Orban in remarks carried by Russian state TV.

Putin also thanked the Hungarian prime minister for proposing Budapest as a potential venue for a Russia-US summit with President Donald Trump.

Plans for a Budapest 'peace summit' were proposed last month but shelved reportedly because the Russian side refused to compromise on maximalist demands regarding the Ukraine conflict.

With parliamentary elections approaching in April, Orban’s meeting could influence his re-election campaign, especially if he secures a Trump-Putin summit in Budapest.

Orban, who last visited Moscow in July 2024, has challenged EU efforts to reduce imports of Russian oil and gas.

This visit aimed to ensure Russian energy supplies for Slovakia, Serbia, and Hungary during winter.

Having previously obtained an exemption from US sanctions on Russian fuel, Orban emphasized Hungary's need for stable energy deals to avoid soaring heating prices.

In a recent letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he called for immediate peace talks and rejected further EU funds for Ukraine.

Orban criticized EU leaders for their stance on Ukraine and accused them of 'war-mongering'.

Coordinating with high-ranking Russian officials, he underlined the urgency of peace negotiations.

Hungary, which relies heavily on Russian energy, faces pressure from the EU to eliminate these imports by 2027. Orban’s negotiations in Moscow are viewed as a contradiction to EU directives.

Interestingly, Putin's supportive commentary on Orban’s leadership aligns with a broader Russian strategy to bolster pro-Moscow governance within Europe.