Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán arrived in Moscow on Friday to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin for discussions focused on securing Hungary’s energy supplies and advancing peace efforts related to Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Orbán announced the visit in a video interview posted to his Facebook page, stating that his primary objective was to ensure Hungary’s energy security. “I am going [to Moscow] to ensure that Hungary’s energy supply is secured for the winter and next year,” he said.
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Asked whether Russia’s war on Ukraine would also feature in the discussions, Orbán said: “We can hardly avoid that,” indicating that the war and potential avenues toward a settlement would also be addressed.
Hungary keeps close Kremlin ties despite EU and NATO stance
Hungary remains heavily dependent on Russian energy despite the European Union’s broader strategy to reduce reliance on Moscow. Orbán has continued to maintain close ties with the Kremlin throughout the war, setting Hungary apart from most NATO and EU allies.
Earlier this month, the United States granted Hungary an exemption from sanctions to continue using Russian oil and gas, following Orbán’s lobbying during a meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington.
Hungary has imported 8.5 million tons of crude oil and more than 7 billion cubic meters of natural gas from Russia so far this year, according to a statement by Hungary’s foreign ministry on Friday.
ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, June 19, 2026
Hungary also signed an agreement on nuclear power cooperation with the United States, allowing it to purchase American nuclear fuel and technology for storing spent fuel at its Russian-built Paks I nuclear facility. Russia’s Rosatom is constructing an expansion to the plant under a 2014 agreement that has faced significant delays.
Orbán revives idea of Budapest peace summit
Orbán has previously floated plans to revive a proposed “peace summit” in Budapest between Trump and Putin, an initiative that was shelved earlier this year.
While most European leaders have distanced themselves from Moscow, Orbán continues to question the effectiveness of Western military aid to Kyiv, despite evidence to the contrary vis-à-vis Ukraine’s success against Russia’s oil industry, and has positioned Hungary as an advocate for renewed dialogue and a negotiated settlement.
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