Budapest: Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has announced that he will travel to Moscow on Friday to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, with the primary aim of securing crude oil and natural gas supplies for the coming winter and the year ahead. Speaking in a video posted on his Facebook page, Orban said his goal was to ensure Hungary’s energy needs remain fully covered.

Orban confirmed that discussions on Ukraine would also be unavoidable during the meeting. His visit is notable given the ongoing war in Ukraine and Hungary’s continued reliance on Russian energy, even as the European Union works to reduce dependence on Moscow.

Earlier this month, the United States granted Hungary an exemption from sanctions, allowing it to keep using Russian oil and gas. The decision followed Orban’s meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington. Hungary has also expanded cooperation with the United States in nuclear energy, signing an agreement that enables the country to purchase American nuclear fuel and technology to store spent fuel at the Russian-built Paks I nuclear power plant. The plant’s extension, being constructed by Russia’s Rosatom in a project launched in 2014, has experienced significant delays.

Orban has previously expressed interest in reviving plans for a “peace summit” in Budapest involving Trump and Putin to discuss Ukraine, an initiative that was postponed earlier this year. Unlike most leaders in NATO and the EU, Orban has maintained a cordial relationship with Moscow and continues to question the approach of Western military assistance to Kyiv.

Hungary’s Foreign Ministry reported that the country imported 8.5 million tonnes of crude oil and more than 7 billion cubic metres of natural gas from Russia this year, underscoring its dependence on Russian supplies and the importance of Orban’s upcoming talks.

Hungary’s position within the EU remains unusual, as it balances long-term energy security with diplomatic sensitivities. The Moscow meeting is expected to address immediate supply concerns as well as broader cooperation on nuclear energy and fuel storage. While many EU states have imposed strict sanctions on Russia, Hungary has secured exemptions that allow it to maintain its energy flow.

Analysts say Orban’s engagement with Putin could influence regional diplomacy, particularly if plans for a revived Trump–Putin summit gain momentum. As Europe prepares for winter, the outcome of the discussions in Moscow will be watched closely by EU and NATO officials, given Hungary’s strategic energy needs and its distinctive foreign policy posture between East and West.