Russian energy | The European Conservative

Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó arrives for talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on March 4, 2026.

Budapest Seeks Energy Price Guarantees in Moscow Talks

TEC News / AFP March 4, 2026

Péter Szijjártó discussed long-term energy shipments with Vladimir Putin as Hungary faces mounting pressure from surging global costs and regional supply disruptions.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a press conference at the end of the Informal EU Leaders' Retreat at the Alden Biesen Castle, in Rijkhoven on February 12, 2026.

Informal EU Leaders’ Retreat: Brussels Discovers the World Won’t Wait

Javier Villamor February 13, 2026

Trying to correct course without admitting mistakes, the bloc seems ready to open the door to a multi-speed Europe.

International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen and EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen during their press confrence in Brussels on December 3, 2025.

Hungary, AfD Slam EU Plan To Ban Russian Gas by 2027

Lukács Fux December 3, 2025

Budapest announced in a press conference that once the decision is formally published, Hungary will challenge it before the European Court of Justice.

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.

Orbán To Meet Putin in Moscow To Discuss Hungary’s Energy Security

TEC News / AFP November 28, 2025

Today’s talks will mark the fourth meeting between Orbán and Putin since the war in Ukraine began.

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.

Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni welcomes Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the Palazzo Chigi prior their meeting in Rome on October 27, 2025.

“Europe Has No Role” in Resolving Ukraine War, Orbán Says in Rome

TEC News October 27, 2025

The Hungarian PM asked Pope Leo to “support Hungary’s anti-war efforts” and discussed European competitiveness issues in the context of the war in Ukraine with Meloni.

Gas burner -- Illustration Russian energy

UPDATED Brussels Decides To Cut Off Russian Gas to Hungary and Slovakia

Javier Villamor October 20, 2025

The plan to phase out Russian gas completely is dividing Europe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump (unseen) in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on October 17, 2025.

Zelensky: Ukraine Will “Grant the Aggressor No Gifts”

TEC News October 19, 2025

The Ukrainian president spoke about a range of issues including Russian energy in Europe in a video posted on social media on Sunday.

Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (C) talks with Cyprus' President Nikos Christodoulides (L) and Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico (R) during a meeting at the European Council in Brussels on June 26, 2025.

EU Leaders Agree on Extending Russia Sanctions, Fail To Approve New Ones

TEC News / AFP June 27, 2025

Slovakian PM Robert Fico could not convince EU chief Ursula von der Leyen to grant his country concessions on Russian energy imports.

Tag: Russian energy

Budapest Seeks Energy Price Guarantees in Moscow Talks

Informal EU Leaders’ Retreat: Brussels Discovers the World Won’t Wait

Hungary, AfD Slam EU Plan To Ban Russian Gas by 2027

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

Orbán To Meet Putin in Moscow To Discuss Hungary’s Energy Security

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

“Europe Has No Role” in Resolving Ukraine War, Orbán Says in Rome

UPDATED Brussels Decides To Cut Off Russian Gas to Hungary and Slovakia

Zelensky: Ukraine Will “Grant the Aggressor No Gifts”

EU Leaders Agree on Extending Russia Sanctions, Fail To Approve New Ones

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