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On 28 November, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to finalise an agreement on Russian gas and oil supplies, and discuss a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. This is the fourth meeting between Orbán and the Russian leader since the launch of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
On each of these occasions, Orbán has been widely criticised by other European leaders. For some, this meeting represents a “hostile act” towards Europe and an attempt to sabotage peace in Ukraine. Moreover, the Hungarian prime minister's defiant stance is seen not only as a provocation of his European counterparts, but also as part of a dispute over the continent's energy supply.
Although the EU agreed in October 2025 to stop importing Russian gas by the end of 2027, member states dependent on it strongly opposed the decision. This is especially true of Hungary, which currently receives 80 percent of its oil and gas (as well as 100 percent of its nuclear fuel) from Russia.
Beyond the clear desire to secure Hungary's energy supply, this meeting demonstrates Orbán's desire to score points with the electorate, with the 2026 parliamentary elections approaching, and his power appearing more threatened than ever by the liberal opposition party, Tisza.
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