Orbán Defies EU, Meets Putin Amidst Ukraine War and Energy Concerns

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on November 28, 2025, just days before scheduled talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The meeting, which occurred despite objections from Orbán’s European Union partners, focused on securing future energy supplies for Hungary and discussing potential avenues for peace.

Energy Security as a Primary Driver

A key objective of Orbán’s visit was to ensure continued deliveries of Russian oil and gas. Hungary has been resistant to reducing its reliance on Russian fossil fuels and the meeting aimed to secure guarantees for future supplies. This comes after the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Russia’s two biggest oil producers, prompting concerns about Hungary’s energy security. President Trump granted Hungary a one-year exemption from these sanctions, acknowledging the difficulties Orbán faced in diversifying energy sources due to the country’s landlocked position. Orbán stated the purpose of the trip was to “guarantee that deliveries to Hungary continue without interruption.”

A Potential Venue for US-Russia Talks

Putin revealed that Orbán proposed Budapest as a potential location for a summit between Russia and the United States, with President Donald Trump. According to Putin, Trump responded favorably, stating, “We have good relations with Hungary, you have good relations with Viktor, and I do too, so I suggest this option.” Russia has agreed to the proposal.

European Reactions and Concerns

Orbán’s meeting with Putin has drawn criticism from several European leaders. Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany expressed concern that Orbán was acting without a European mandate and without consulting EU partners. Merz questioned the likelihood of success, noting that Orbán has previously proposed ideas for ending the war that have not arrive to fruition.

Orbán’s Relationship with Putin

Orbán is widely considered one of President Putin’s closest allies in Europe. He has consistently faced criticism from NATO and EU allies for undermining solidarity against Russia. The meeting marks another instance of Orbán diverging from the collective stance of the European Union regarding Russia.