Orban Meets Putin Today in Moscow

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated to the Russian news agency TASS that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow today, Friday.

Peskov added that the leaders intend to discuss energy supplies and the war in Ukraine with Putin.

Speculation has been circulating for days about a potential visit by Orban, who is considered close to Moscow.

This visit comes amid intense diplomatic efforts by the United States to end the war in Ukraine, with negotiations recently taking place in Geneva regarding a U.S.-backed peace plan.

This also comes as Russia considers selling sanctioned oil refineries, which have raised concerns about fuel shortages across Eastern Europe.

Orban stated that he will head to Moscow today to discuss crude oil and natural gas supplies after recently obtaining, through U.S. President Donald Trump, an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian oil, according to Bloomberg news today.

He added that the Russian war on Ukraine will also be discussed.

Orban spoke today, a day after holding talks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, whose country is facing a fuel crisis after U.S. sanctions led to the closure of the NIS refinery owned by Gazprom, the only refinery in the country.