BUDAPEST, Hungary — During his upcoming visit to the White House, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is expected to focus on securing U.S. approval for Hungary’s continued importation of Russian oil, a clear indicator of the complex dynamics between his administration and both Moscow and Washington. This meeting, the first between Orbán and President Donald Trump since Trump resumed his presidential duties in January, will take place at 11:45 a.m. ET.
Orbán, who was once a vocal opponent of Russia’s influence in Hungary during the Cold War, has made a significant pivot toward Moscow over the past decade. He is now regarded as one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s staunchest supporters within the European Union, maintaining cordial ties with the Kremlin in the face of ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As part of the MAGA movement, which views Hungary’s stance as a paradigm of conservative nationalism, Orbán is trying to leverage his relationship with Trump to shield Hungary from increased international pressure regarding its energy policy.
With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearing its fourth anniversary, both the EU and the U.S. have urged Hungary to reduce its dependency on Russian oil—a significant source of revenue for the Kremlin amid the ongoing war. Last month, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on major Russian energy companies, which may potentially affect foreign buyers like Hungary.
Orbán claims that Hungary, being landlocked and reliant on a single pipeline, has no realistic alternatives to Russian crude oil. Critics of this position, including energy experts, argue that Hungary has simply resisted diversifying its energy sources, unlike Poland which has proactively sought alternatives after facing similar challenges. The Druzhba pipeline, which brings Russian oil through Ukraine, presently dominates Hungary’s energy supply, but other options, including the Adria pipeline from Croatia, remain available and could serve to lessen Hungary’s reliance on Russian resources.
The backdrop to this energy dispute is Orbán’s historically fraught relationship with Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Hungary has refrained from providing military assistance to Ukraine or allowing transit of such aid, while Orbán has expressed opposition to certain EU sanctions against Russia. Thus, while Hungary has faced criticism for favoring Moscow, it continues to cultivate relationships with leaders like Trump who may share an affinity for its nationalist policies.
In further developments, anticipation surrounds discussions around a potential peace summit regarding Ukraine during the meeting. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó mentioned the high likelihood of addressing the situation in Ukraine and expressed Hungary’s willingness to host peace negotiations in Budapest if progressive discussions take place.
As Orbán prepares for this high-stakes meeting, observers speculate on the outcome and whether the current geopolitical climate will bring any shift in Hungary’s energy stance. With mounting scrutiny from EU member states and a need for strategic adjustments, Orbán’s reliance on the support of Trump could prove to be a pivotal moment for Hungary, balancing its long-standing ties to Russia against the growing pressures for change from its Western allies.