IRIA News

5 minute read

Russian President Vladimir Putin met Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Moscow on November 28, 2025, in one of the rare visits by a European Union and NATO leader since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The meeting focused heavily on energy security, Hungary’s continued reliance on Russian oil and gas, and renewed diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war.

Putin welcomed Orban’s presence in Moscow and said he would still be open to holding a Russia-U.S. summit in Budapest with President Donald Trump, despite earlier plans falling through.

“We happily agreed,” Putin said in televised remarks, thanking Orban for offering the venue. Orban and Trump had planned to host the summit in October, but Trump canceled, saying he did not want the talks to be “a waste of time.”

Energy Dominates Agenda

Orban said he sought detailed talks on Russian energy supplies, calling them essential for Hungary’s security. Hungary imported 8.5 million metric tons of crude oil and more than 7 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia this year, according to its foreign ministry.

He said he was visiting Moscow “to ensure Hungary’s energy supply is secured for the winter and next year,” and noted that a U.S. sanctions exemption was critical to preventing energy shortages.

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump granted Hungary a one-year exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and gas after Orban argued that Hungary, as a landlocked country, could not easily shift to alternative suppliers.

“We recently travelled to Washington to secure Hungary’s exemption from the American sanctions on Russian energy: we succeeded,” Orban wrote on social media.

Hungary has long maintained energy ties with Russia and has resisted EU efforts to cut imports. While other EU members reduced dependence on Russian fossil fuels after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Hungary deepened it.

Russian crude made up 86% of Hungary’s imports in 2024 and has risen to 92% so far this year. Slovakia, also landlocked, remains almost fully dependent on Russian supply, while the Czech Republic has phased out Russian crude entirely.

Despite Budapest’s continued reliance on Russian energy, Hungary has also moved to diversify its energy supplies. It signed a nuclear cooperation pact with the United States to purchase fuel and storage technology for the Russian-built Paks I nuclear plant. Russia’s Rosatom is overseeing an extension of the facility under a 2014 deal that has faced repeated delays.

Putin Praises Hungary’s ‘Balanced’ Ukraine Stance

During his meeting with Orban, Putin described Hungary’s position on Ukraine as “balanced” and said bilateral trade, which fell by 23% last year due to sanctions and restrictions, had grown 7% in 2025.

Orban has repeatedly questioned Western military aid to Kyiv and has cast himself as a proponent of peace. “We very much hope that the peace proposals on the table will lead to a ceasefire and peace,” he said during the talks. He has strongly backed Trump’s proposed peace plan and has urged the EU to pursue direct negotiations with Moscow.

The meeting comes as Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy, prepares to meet Putin in Moscow next week as part of a renewed effort by Washington to push for a ceasefire. Putin did not rule out the possibility of a future summit in Budapest involving Trump.

Hungary’s domestic politics also loom over Orban’s diplomacy. His Fidesz party faces parliamentary elections in April, and polls indicate a potential defeat for the first time in 15 years. Hosting a high-profile summit could bolster his standing at home.

EU Tensions and US Relations

Orban’s continued engagement with Russia has angered several NATO and EU partners, who argue Budapest is undermining European solidarity.

Earlier this week, Orban wrote to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, calling for “immediate, unconditional peace talks” with Russia and opposing further EU funds for Ukraine or the use of frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv.

In Washington earlier this month, Orban also secured agreements to buy U.S. liquefied natural gas and U.S. nuclear fuel, steps that mean Hungary will gradually reduce some dependence on Russia. He has argued that without agreements with both Washington and Moscow, Hungary’s heating prices would triple.

Russia remains Hungary’s primary energy provider, supplying more than 80% of its oil and gas and all of its nuclear fuel. Hungarian trade contributes an estimated $5 billion annually to the Russian budget.

Diplomatic Calculations

Analysts say both Putin and Trump see political advantage in Orban staying in power. Putin praised Orban personally at the Valdai Forum in Sochi in September, saying “nationally-oriented political forces” were gaining strength in Europe.

Despite the discussions in Moscow, there is no visible shift in Russia’s negotiating stance on Ukraine. With little sign of compromise from the Kremlin, Hungary is likely to continue balancing between maintaining essential energy ties and navigating growing EU pressure to end Russian imports by 2027.

Orban emphasized that energy security remains his immediate priority. “Guaranteeing that deliveries to Hungary continue without interruption” was the primary purpose of the Moscow visit, he said.

The meeting ended without formal announcements, but both sides signaled willingness to continue talks as diplomatic efforts intensify ahead of upcoming U.S.-Russia contacts in Moscow.