Here’s when PM Viktor Orbán will meet Donald Trump
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on 7 November, Minister Gergely Gulyás announced at Thursday’s government press briefing. Following the talks, a public press conference is scheduled to take place in the Oval Office at the White House.
The reason why Orbán visits Trump
According to Gulyás, the main goal of the visit is to achieve tangible results for the Hungarian economy. Decisions are expected to be made in the fields of energy, defence industry, economy and finance. The two leaders will also discuss ways to bring the war in Ukraine to an end and the ongoing preparations for the Budapest Peace Summit.
The Bloomberg news portal had earlier reported that the meeting would take place on 8 November, but the Hungarian government has now confirmed the date as one day earlier. International sources suggest that one of the key topics will be the impact of sanctions imposed on Russia, particularly in relation to Hungary’s energy dependence, writes Telex.
Orbán and Trump last held talks over the phone in September, focusing on Hungary’s reliance on Russian energy. At the time, the Hungarian Prime Minister sought to convince the US President that Hungary should not face penalties for continuing to import Russian oil and gas.
What will happen with Russian energy resources?
The issue has remained on the agenda since then: Matt Whitaker, the United States’ NATO ambassador, recently stated on Fox News that countries such as Hungary, Turkey and Slovakia must urgently draw up and implement plans to reduce their dependence on Russian energy resources.
Orbán has previously criticised Trump’s recent decision to impose new sanctions on Russian energy companies, calling it a mistake. He said he intends to raise this issue again during the upcoming meeting in Washington, arguing that such sanctions hurt Europe the most and weaken the continent’s economic competitiveness.
The upcoming visit to the US capital therefore holds not only political but also economic significance. The outcome of the discussions could influence the future of Hungarian–American relations, the country’s energy security, and even broader diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the conflict in Ukraine.