Balázs Orbán | The European Conservative

Balázs Orbán: “Europe has lost its soul and is moving toward authoritarian centralization”

Javier Villamor December 4, 2025

Orbán argues that the EU’s political elite is using the war in Ukraine as a pretext to accelerate a federalist project that restricts national sovereignty.

MCC Brussels Conference on the Future of the Continent Begins Today

Javier Villamor December 3, 2025

The event examines the growing distance between EU institutions and the Union’s citizens amid a full-blown European identity crisis.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hailed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s “balanced position” on Ukraine as the two leaders met in the Kremlin on Friday, November 28th for talks focused on the war, energy security, and the prospect of Budapest hosting a future U.S.–Russia summit. Putin said that Moscow appreciated Hungary’s “moderate stance.” He also thanked Orbán for being prepared to host a meeting between him and U.S. President Donald Trump in Budapest. The talks in Moscow—Orbán’s second visit since last year—underline the Hungarian leader’s unique role within the European Union. Since the beginning of the war, he has been the only EU head of government to maintain open communication channels with the Kremlin, and the only one to consistently call for peace talks rather than increased military support for Ukraine. Western European leaders and Brussels, by contrast, have preferred to fuel the war through military aid packages while failing to produce any strategy for diplomatic negotiations. Similarly to Putin, Trump, too, has welcomed Orbán’s distinct diplomatic strategy as the U.S. president is pushing his own plan for ending the war. Budapest was agreed upon as a future venue for a U.S.-Russia summit, but an agreement on Trump’s 28-point peace plan would have to be a precursor to that. While the EU is currently focusing on seizing Russian assets to use as a so-called reparations loan for Ukraine, it is simultaneously upset that it is being excluded from peace talks as Trump and Orbán make efforts to bring Moscow to the negotiating table. On Thursday, Putin said he would end his Ukraine offensive if Kyiv withdrew from territory Moscow claims as its own—otherwise his army would take it by force. Washington’s original plan would have seen Kyiv withdraw from its eastern Donetsk region and the United States de facto recognise the Donetsk, Crimea, and Lugansk regions as Russian, but Washington backtracked following criticism from Europe, and has not yet released the new version. Another central issue for Orbán in his dealings with Russia is the question of energy. “Energy supplies from Russia form the basis of Hungary’s energy supply now and will remain so in the future,” he said during the meeting, stressing that stable oil and gas deliveries were essential to keeping Hungarian energy prices the lowest in the EU. Ahead of the trip, Orbán said he had recently travelled to Washington to secure an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy companies. “We succeeded,” he announced on social media. BLOCK QUOTE Now we must take the next step, guaranteeing that deliveries to Hungary continue without interruption. This is why I am going to Russia today: to make sure Hungary’s energy supply remains secure and affordable this winter and in the year ahead. https://x.com/PM_ViktorOrban/status/1994348592996229323 His political director, Balázs Orbán, warned that Europe was “steering onto an increasingly wartime course”, cutting itself off from Russian energy while pushing for new sanctions, accelerating Ukraine’s EU accession, and risking elevating the conflict “into a broader Europe–Russia confrontation.” Hungary argues that such policies harm European competitiveness and ignore the interests of EU citizens, particularly as households across the bloc struggle with soaring energy prices.

UPDATED As the EU Pushes Sanctions, Orbán Talks Peace and Energy Cooperation in Moscow

Zoltán Kottász November 28, 2025

Vladimir Putin praised the Hungarian PM’s “balanced position” as the two leaders discussed Ukraine, energy, and a possible Budapest peace summit.

Balázs Orbán, political adviser to the Hungarian Prime Minister

Politico Accused of Altering Hungary Polling Data

TEC News November 24, 2025

The Hungarian prime minister’s political adviser described the modification of the aggregate chart as “blatant data tampering.”

Europe’s Top Judge Crosses the Line: Brussels’ Attack on Hungary and Judicial Neutrality

Javier Villamor November 13, 2025

ECJ President Koen Lenaerts brands Hungary an “oligarchy,” blurring the line between justice and politics.

Orbán Seeks To Revive Visegrad Alliance

Zolta Győri October 28, 2025

The Eurosceptic turn in recent Czech elections allows Budapest to form a new partnership to resist the irresponsible EU spending plan for the Ukraine war.

Disrupting Trump’s Trust in Orbán: Establishment Media “Deliberately Distorts” Hungarian PM’s Comments

Michael Curzon October 28, 2025

Newspapers are trying to force strains between Washington and Budapest. But Trump himself is aware of the media’s many tricks.

Polish FM Calls for Attacks on Druzhba Oil Pipeline

Zolta Győri October 22, 2025

Balázs Orbán, political director to the Hungarian prime minister, denounced the comment, calling it “the darkest depth of war hysteria.”

The main chamber of the European Parliament in Brussels

European Parliament (Of Course) To Debate Planned Budapest Peace Summit

Rebeka Kis October 21, 2025

European Parliament to Debate Planned Budapest Peace Summit

Former U.S. President Barack Obama on December 5, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois

When Conservatives Win, Liberals See ‘Autocracy’: Obama Attacks Hungary and Poland

Zoltán Kottász October 13, 2025

Former U.S. president Barack Obama spoke of “significant challenges” from “authoritarian” leaders in Europe after a discussion with Obama Foundation alumni.

Tag: Balázs Orbán

Balázs Orbán: “Europe has lost its soul and is moving toward authoritarian centralization”

MCC Brussels Conference on the Future of the Continent Begins Today

UPDATED As the EU Pushes Sanctions, Orbán Talks Peace and Energy Cooperation in Moscow

Politico Accused of Altering Hungary Polling Data

Europe’s Top Judge Crosses the Line: Brussels’ Attack on Hungary and Judicial Neutrality

Orbán Seeks To Revive Visegrad Alliance

Disrupting Trump’s Trust in Orbán: Establishment Media “Deliberately Distorts” Hungarian PM’s Comments

Polish FM Calls for Attacks on Druzhba Oil Pipeline

European Parliament (Of Course) To Debate Planned Budapest Peace Summit

When Conservatives Win, Liberals See ‘Autocracy’: Obama Attacks Hungary and Poland

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