Putin praises Orbán’s “balanced” Ukraine stance as leaders discuss potential Russia–US summit in Budapest
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Friday, marking his fourth visit to Moscow since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. The talks focused on bilateral relations, energy cooperation, and, notably, the possibility of Budapest hosting a future Russia–US summit.
Putin: Relations built on “pragmatism”
At the start of the meeting, Putin emphasised that cooperation between Moscow and Budapest remains intact “despite all today’s difficulties”. According to the Russian president, the relationship is now based on pragmatism and “all the best that was” in the countries’ shared past, Russian news agency TASS reported.
Although trade volumes have fallen due to international sanctions, Putin noted that this year’s figures show “certain growth” of more than 7%. Energy cooperation also remains “extensive”, though he acknowledged there are outstanding issues the two governments need to resolve.
Putin again thanked Orbán for showing readiness to host Russia–US peace talks in Budapest. He even revealed that the idea originally came from former US President Donald Trump, who suggested the Hungarian capital as a venue because both he and Putin maintain a good relationship with Orbán.
“If our talks lead to Budapest serving as the platform, I would be very pleased,” Putin said.
Orbán’s “balanced” position on Ukraine
According to 444.hu, the Russian president also praised Hungary’s approach to the war in Ukraine, telling Orbán: “We are aware of your balanced position on the Ukraine issue.”
This latest Moscow trip comes after a series of unsuccessful “peace missions” by Orbán. He travelled to the Kremlin shortly before Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022: a move he later described as an attempt at mediation. In July 2024, he returned to Moscow as the rotating president of the EU Council, without consulting European partners, prompting widespread criticism across the bloc.
This week’s visit was similarly unannounced. Orbán only confirmed the trip publicly just before boarding an early-morning flight to Russia, with his delegation arriving in Moscow shortly after 11 AM local time:
Венгерская мандавошка Орбан прилетел в Москву за зарплатой и указаниями. pic.twitter.com/fqpYfGL34O
— Aндpeй Пятoв/Аndrey Pyatov (@andreyvlz) November 28, 2025
Hungary was represented in the talks by Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, Construction and Transport Minister János Lázár, and economic adviser Marcell Biró.
Brussels distances itself: “This has nothing to do with the EU”
Following news of the meeting, the European Commission moved quickly to clarify that Orbán’s Moscow visit was not an EU mission, according to Portfolio’s report.
Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho stressed that EU member state leaders cannot individually represent the bloc on matters involving common foreign policy, especially concerning Russia’s war in Ukraine.
She underlined that the Hungarian prime minister travelled on his own initiative, adding that Brussels evaluates every diplomatic move based on how it affects European unity and the joint position on Russian aggression.
The Commission’s stance remains unchanged: no member state leader is authorised to negotiate in the EU’s name on such issues.
There he is. Every organism has a hole for waste and for the EU it is Orban’s Hungary. When he finishes giving Putin his b-job he can return to Hungary to continue picking the pockets of Hungarians.
Yes, Dear Larry…
Let’s praise the EU, for it’s policy that has led to the deaths of millions of Slavs, and tens of millions of homeless among them, all the while cursing the man of your own blood who has sought peace and who, by the way, was right, from the very start : that NATO did not have a snowball’s chance in hell to win a war against Russia in the Ukraine.
Yes, and let’s curse your prime minister for ensuring that Hungarians pay a small price for energy – the very antithesis of their neighbours.
Yes, My Friend, clearly Orban is out of his everloving mind.
Cannot believe NATO made Mr. Putin do this.
https://zona.media/casualties
Do spare a thought for the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, and daughters they leave behind … All worth the sacrifice, I guess?
Speaking of deaths. Perhaps you care to elaborate on the Holodomor? The famine induced by Soviet Russia in Ukraine in the thirties – during which millions died of starvation?
I am certain you can do the story far more justice than I ever could.
I agree with your prime minister, Orban Viktor, Dear Norbert, that the approach, which you’ve outlined here, as a guide to foreign policy, is a very unworthy.
Why?
Because continually trying to justify policies of aggression, whether through proxies or not, based upon terrible mistakes made by nations in their past, is simply a recipe to endless war.
No, Dear Norbert, what we are confronted with here is NOT the year 1927, 1945, 1956, 1989, or 2006, even, but, the year 2025, AND … as it pertains to Ukraine and Eastern Europe there is a simple question : is the Ukraine to return to the Russian sphere, which it occupied for over 1,000 years; is the Ukraine to continue on with a very new concept – as an absolutely essential part of The West?; OR … is the Ukraine to exist as something in between?
Russia has stated, since 1989, that options 1 & 3 are plausible. Option #2 means war.
The Western Elite has chosen war.
Russia has won that war.
What next?
Denial, justifications, and more provocations by The Western Elite, whlle your current leader ignores this tomfoolery and goes about the business of securing Hungary’s position through cooperation, diplomacy, and improving the economic position of every Hungarian better, through extremely reliable and cheap energy.
While the Western Elite destroys Germany’s manufacturing, Orban Victor has positioned Hungary to continue to be the first beneficiary of this, this as more German companies eye moving to Hungary.
Despite numerous difficulties Hungary has undergone, because of this Operation Barbarossa 2.0, Orban Viktor has positioned Hungary to be it’s second biggest beneficiary.
Orban Viktor is living in the now, this in order to try and improve the future of Hungary, which, as you know, is yet to recover economically from a very very difficult 20th century.
Maybe Hungarian Leftists will be unable to observe this and process what this means, BUT, I have to wonder what the rest of the country will think?
Though I still see it as an uphill battle for Orban Viktor, with the passage of every week his prospects look better and better.
Vladimir Putin just ponied up a lot of energy and loans to ensure a promising future for Hungary. Now we will see what XI and Trump are prepared to do.
Right now Trump is clipping Zelensky’s wings, but, by the first of the year I expect Trump to make a demonstration for Orban, just like Putin did today.
Xi may avoid public histrionics and provide help quietly.
That is what at stake, Dear Norbert – not fighting the Mongols in the years 1245, not trying to correct the tragedy of the Holodomor by killing innocent people in 2025
Have a great day!
It is pretty simple … Russia is the aggressor, the war monger. Ukraine is simply defending itself.
Ukraine and Russia share deep historical roots – including Kyivan Rus and Christian Orthodoxy. To touch on history – which is being invoked to argue Ukraine is somehow Russian. Most of its history, Ukraine was not “part of Russia”. This is a Mr. Putin myth. When it was, it was usually because of conquest or imperial expansion. History rhymes.
Ukraine has a long tradition of statehood. A distinct nation with its own language, culture, traditions, and identity.
Actually, you will find most Ukrainians do not even speak or understand Russian, and vice versa. Do not know when you moved out of Hungary, but we were taught Russian in school. Perhaps just as well – our Mr. Orbán is of this generation and will surely be able to show off his Russian knowledge when in Moscow.
And if “winning” means extending a “special operation” of a few months to a 4 year slog with little progress and a death toll as outlined – maybe, just maybe – it is not “winning”?
The war is a costly, brutal and grinding stalemate for both sides, at best. And from what I am hearing from Russia – not without significant impact far from the front, either.
“It is pretty simple … Russia is the aggressor, the war monger. Ukraine is simply defending itself…”
It is pretty simple, Dear Norbert – MI6 & CIA overthrew 3 legimately elected governments of Ukraine, since 1991.
Then?
They, Undersecretary Victoria Nuland, in 2014, put the Galician Naziis in charge of the Ukraine Puppet government, with directions to commit atrocities against other Ukrainians in the eastern part of the country – to provoke a war with Russia, which was simply another ruse for another regime change operation against Vladimir Putin.
After many atrocities and broken agreements (Minsk I & II) Russia accepted that there were only two options – war or more unjustifiable passivity.
They chose war.
That does not make them the aggressor, anymore than you would be the aggressor if I kept attacking your family members and ignored your warnings to stop.
To think Russia is the aggressor is to ignore the fact that the modern Ukraine was created as a human missile to destroy Russia.
That has failed, and, as well, most of the world regards the West as the aggressor.
Thank you for your reply.
Always bring a translator you can trust. I see some really wild things with foreigners in Hungary, as well …
It reminds me of the scene in the film Reds where John Reed played by Warren Beatty is giving a speech about revolutionary principles on behalf of the Reds in some central Asian location that is being translated to the crowd and they erupt into wild cheers. Beatty asks “Why are they cheering?” The answer to him is “They want to join your call for Holy War!”
There is nothing “balanced” about Orbans stance on Ukraine. Thanks to all the government propaganda, it is clear to all Hungarians that Hungarian government thinks Ukraine is a lost state, that Ukraine sovereignty is something that does not exist and is not worthy of fighting for. I hope this Russian vassal government in Hungary will be changed next year to a government that is more sovereign.
I agree.
“it is clear to all Hungarians that Hungarian government thinks Ukraine is a lost state..”
The Ukraine is a ‘lost state’ , and has long been so, with or without any opinion on the part of the Hungarian Government.
The notion that Hungary is a Russian-vassal state, but the rest of the EU not Western Elite vassal states is a notion so incredible that it could only be filed in the category of Népmesek.