Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban defied Brussels on Friday by promising Russia's President Vladimir Putin he would keep buying Russian oil, despite the EU's push to isolate Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.
Orban met Putin at the Kremlin in the midst of a diplomatic push to end the war in Ukraine, his fourth meeting with the Russian president since the 2022 invasion.
In power since 2010, Orban has maintained ties with the Kremlin throughout the conflict, while also criticising Hungary's neighbour Ukraine.
His position is out of step with Brussels, which has called on EU members to end their dependence on Russian energy and is trying to make its voice heard in peace negotiations.
"We have not given up cooperation [with Russia] in any area, regardless of any external pressure," Orban told Putin.
"I would like to reiterate that energy supplies from Russia form the basis of Hungary's energy supply now and will remain so in the future."
Partners in pragmatism
Earlier this month, Orban said he would take the EU to court over a decision to phase out remaining Russian gas imports to the bloc.
Budapest is heavily reliant on Russian energy. "We greatly appreciate the reliability and predictability of these supplies," Orban said.
Putin called Russia's energy cooperation with Hungary "a cornerstone" of the partnership between the two countries, according to a transcript of the meeting on the Kremlin website.
Putin thanked the Hungarian leader for what he called Hungary's "balanced position" on Ukraine and for maintaining ties with Russia "despite all the difficulties".
He said Budapest-Moscow ties were based on "pragmatism".
Orban – who is facing re-election in April next year – said ahead of his trip that he was going to Moscow to "ensure Hungary's energy supply is secured for the winter and the following year at an affordable price".
Brussels not informed
Budapest did not notify Brussels of Orban's visit to Moscow, according to reports.
"No one – at least not Hungary's NATO or EU partners, according to several diplomatic sources – had been informed of the visit. It seems it wasn't coordinated with Washington either," said investigative journalist Szabolcs Panyi, writing for independent Hungarian outlet VSquare.
Orban also visited Moscow in July last year, when Hungary was heading the rotating presidency of the European Council.
Brussels reacted angrily to that trip, saying that Orban had not received any mandate from the EU Council to visit Moscow and that the EU position on Russia’s war of aggression "excludes official contacts between the EU and President Putin".
"The Hungarian Prime Minister is thus not representing the EU in any form," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement at the time.
From Washington to Warsaw: how MAGA influence is reshaping Europe’s far right
Peace talks
Orban has presented himself as a potential mediator on the Ukraine war and reiterated at his latest meeting with Putin that Hungary was "ready to serve as a venue for peace negotiations".
A summit between Putin and US President Donald Trump was meant to take place in Budapest in October, but never happened. According to Russia's Tass news agency, Putin told Orban that the idea of meeting in Budapest was suggested by Trump.
Orban seeks Trump’s support over reliance on Russian energy amid US sanctions
Orban has criticised Western support for Kyiv and said Ukraine has no chance of winning against Russia. He told Putin on Friday that the almost four-year war is harming Europe's economy and that he hopes the latest diplomatic proposals "will lead to a ceasefire and peace".
Putin has not dropped his demands that Ukraine cede even more land than Russia currently occupies.
Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff is due in Moscow next week to discuss an updated US plan to end the Ukraine war with Putin. The draft plan was initially seen as heeding to most of Putin's demands, but has been reworked by Washington after talks with Kyiv.
(with newswires)
