Vladimir Putin | The European Conservative

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.

Putin Says War Will End Only if Ukraine Quits Occupied Land

TEC News / AFP November 27, 2025

The Kremlin insists its offensive cannot be stopped, while the U.S. prepares fresh diplomacy with both sides.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shake hands ahead of their meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin on September 1, 2025.

Erdoğan Reiterates Offer To Serve as Mediator in Ukraine Talks in Phone Call with Putin

Zolta Győri November 24, 2025

Putin told the Turkish president that the U.S. proposal could “in principle serve as a basis for a final peace settlement.”

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the press before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., on November 22, 2025 as he heads to visit The Courses at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland.

UPDATED Trump Blasts Ukraine, Talks to Meloni, Stubb

TEC News / AFP November 23, 2025

Merz said he doubted any agreement could be reached by the November 27 deadline set by Trump, while the Turkish president announced he would be talking to Putin on Monday.

Putin Signals Russia May Restart Nuclear Tests if U.S. Does

TEC News / AFP November 5, 2025

Putin ordered ministries to draw up proposals for nuclear test readiness after Trump urged the Pentagon to resume testing “on an equal basis” with Russia and China.

Russia Conducts New Nuclear Test Despite U.S. Concerns

TEC News / AFP October 29, 2025

Russia’s Poseidon underwater drone, equipped with nuclear propulsion, is designed to travel at over 70 knots and operate at depths exceeding one kilometre.

Brussels’ Reckless Push To Seize Russian Assets Will Hurt Europe

Rafael Pinto Borges October 29, 2025

When the war ends, Moscow will come looking for its money, and European taxpayers will be legally bound to return it. And that’s just part of the problem.

War Over Peace: Hungary Under Siege in EU Parliament for Advocating Diplomacy

Javier Villamor October 22, 2025

Any mention of a ceasefire was dismissed as naïve or labeled “Kremlin propaganda.”

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska in August 2025

Trump Suspends Plans for Putin Peace Summit

TEC News / AFP October 22, 2025

The White House confirmed Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s Sergei Lavrov also cancelled a planned meeting, while Hungarian FM Szijjártó said the summit is not off the table.

Tag: Vladimir Putin

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

Putin Says War Will End Only if Ukraine Quits Occupied Land

Erdoğan Reiterates Offer To Serve as Mediator in Ukraine Talks in Phone Call with Putin

UPDATED Trump Blasts Ukraine, Talks to Meloni, Stubb

Putin Signals Russia May Restart Nuclear Tests if U.S. Does

Russia Conducts New Nuclear Test Despite U.S. Concerns

Brussels’ Reckless Push To Seize Russian Assets Will Hurt Europe

War Over Peace: Hungary Under Siege in EU Parliament for Advocating Diplomacy

Trump Suspends Plans for Putin Peace Summit

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