Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó visited Moscow on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to reports from European news outlets. The sudden diplomatic visit came a day after Putin reportedly spoke by phone with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Szijjártó stated he was in Moscow to secure guarantees on energy imports, saying he needed to ensure Hungary has the oil and natural gas necessary for the country's energy security during the current crisis. Hungary remains one of the last EU member states, along with Slovakia, still importing large volumes of Russian oil and natural gas through pipelines.
I was in Moscow to secure guarantees on energy imports, saying I needed to ensure Hungary has the oil and natural gas necessary for the country's energy security during the current crisis.
The meeting occurs amid a dispute between Hungary and Ukraine over the Druzhba pipeline, which was damaged in a suspected Russian air strike at the end of January. Hungary and Slovakia claim the pipeline can be made operational and that Ukraine is blocking repair work for political reasons, while Kyiv maintains any repair work would be risky and could only proceed under a ceasefire with Russia.
As a result of this dispute, Hungary has reportedly blocked the implementation of the EU's €90 billion loan package to Ukraine, as well as the latest sanctions package against Russia. According to reports, Putin thanked Hungary for its "principled" and "independent" policy regarding Ukraine during his phone call with Orbán.
Hungary and Slovakia claim the pipeline can be made operational and that Ukraine is blocking repair work for political reasons
The energy issue has become a hot topic in Hungary's electoral campaign ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for April 12, where Orbán's Fidesz party faces challenges from the opposition Tisza party, which currently leads in opinion polls.
Kyiv maintains any repair work would be risky and could only proceed under a ceasefire with Russia
Putin thanked Hungary for its 'principled' and 'independent' policy regarding Ukraine during his phone call with Orbán