Quick Read
- Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán met Vladimir Putin in Moscow to secure continued access to Russian oil and gas.
- Hungary remains one of the few EU countries importing large quantities of Russian fossil fuels.
- Orbán negotiated an exemption to U.S. sanctions, allowing Hungary to continue energy imports.
- His stance has deepened EU divisions over Russian sanctions and energy policy.
- Peace negotiations involving Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. are ongoing amid continued conflict.
Orbán’s Moscow Mission: Energy Security in a Divided Europe
When Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stepped into the Kremlin for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 28, 2025, it was more than just another diplomatic visit. It was a statement—one that underscored Orbán’s unique position within the European Union and the complex web of energy, economics, and geopolitics that binds Hungary to Russia, even as the war in Ukraine grinds on.
Hungary’s Energy Gamble: Why Orbán Is Doubling Down on Russian Oil and Gas
Orbán’s trip to Moscow is the second in as many years, signaling a persistent willingness to engage with Russia while most EU leaders keep their distance. The agenda was clear from the start: Orbán wanted to secure Hungary’s continued access to Russian oil and gas at affordable prices—a lifeline he argues is essential for Hungary’s economic survival.
In an interview with state media before his departure, Orbán was blunt: “Now all we need is oil and gas, which we can buy from the Russians. I am going there to ensure Hungary’s energy supply at an affordable price both this winter and next year.”
This stance puts Hungary at odds with the rest of the EU, which has moved to cut off Russian energy imports since the invasion of Ukraine in 2021. While Brussels pushes for a complete phase-out of Russian fossil fuels by 2027, Budapest continues to import—and even increase—its purchases, arguing that alternatives are too costly and disruptive for the Hungarian economy.
Critics, however, challenge Orbán’s narrative, suggesting that Hungary could weather the transition away from Russian energy without the dire consequences he predicts. Yet, for now, Orbán’s government remains firm, leveraging its close ties to Moscow and Washington to carve out exceptions that keep Russian oil and gas flowing to Hungarian homes and factories.
Sanctions, Exemptions, and Diplomatic Chess: Hungary’s Balancing Act
The backdrop to Orbán’s Moscow visit is the evolving landscape of international sanctions. Earlier this month, Orbán traveled to Washington and secured an exemption for Hungary from new U.S. sanctions targeting Russian energy giants Lukoil and Rosneft. This diplomatic coup allows Hungary to continue its imports while other countries scramble to adapt.
For the U.S., the sanctions are a tool to squeeze Russia’s war chest, aiming to restrict the economic means that fuel the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. A senior U.S. Treasury official noted that prices for Russian oil have dropped as major buyers in India and China comply with the new rules. But Hungary’s exemption, brokered directly with President $1 Trump, reveals the fissures within the Western alliance and the lengths some leaders will go to safeguard national interests.
Orbán’s approach is pragmatic, but it also raises questions about the EU’s unity and the effectiveness of collective action against Russia. Is Hungary’s energy security worth the risk of undermining broader sanctions? The answer, for Orbán, seems clear—but for Brussels, it’s a point of growing tension.
Diplomatic Ripples: Peace Plans and Regional Security
The timing of Orbán’s visit coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine. The Trump administration has rolled out a 28-point peace proposal that reportedly favors Russian interests, stirring anxiety among European leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has engaged with American negotiators, while Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet Putin in Moscow. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll will speak with Ukrainian officials.
Putin, meanwhile, prepares for his own diplomatic tour, with a trip to India scheduled for early December. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has kept details of Witkoff’s upcoming visit under wraps, emphasizing that the “main parameters” of the peace plan were relayed to Russia after recent Geneva talks.
For Hungary, the stakes are high. Orbán’s actions signal a desire to insulate his country from the economic fallout of the war, but also to remain relevant in the shifting landscape of European and global diplomacy. The question for the EU is whether this approach strengthens Hungary’s position—or isolates it further from the collective stance against Russian aggression.
Hungary’s Role and the Future of European Unity
Orbán’s Moscow visit is a reminder that, in times of crisis, national interests can trump collective agreements. Hungary’s reliance on Russian energy is both a vulnerability and a bargaining chip, allowing Orbán to negotiate from a position of necessity. Yet, as Europe confronts the dual challenges of energy security and regional stability, the fractures within the bloc become increasingly visible.
Russia’s war in Ukraine continues to cast a long shadow over European politics. The latest reports from Russia’s Defense Ministry detail ongoing attacks, with air defenses intercepting Ukrainian drones across several regions, including Crimea. Civilian infrastructure suffers, and the prospect of peace remains uncertain.
As negotiations unfold, Orbán’s actions will be closely watched—not only for what they mean for Hungary, but for the broader question of how Europe responds to adversity. Will the EU find a way to reconcile its differences, or will individual nations chart their own course, risking the coherence of the bloc?
Orbán’s willingness to pursue independent energy deals with Russia, even as the EU seeks to present a united front, highlights the enduring tension between national priorities and collective European policy. As peace negotiations inch forward and winter approaches, the choices made in Budapest and Moscow may shape not just Hungary’s fate, but the future direction of the European Union itself.