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In an era when Europe’s political discourse has hardened into binaries and geopolitical pressure often replaces strategic thinking, Hungary has emerged once again as the continent’s most pragmatic voice. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on November 28 was not merely a diplomatic gesture. It was a pragmatic strategic signal defying external pressures, and illustrates that Europe still has sovereign leaders capable of acting in the national interest, who understand that energy security, economic stability, structuralist engagement and constructive dialogue and structural conflict-crisis solution, not ideological confrontation, are the real foundations of long-term security.
Far from being symbolic, the Kremlin talks were intensely practical. They centered on energy supplies, infrastructure projects, trade dynamics, the future of nuclear energy cooperation, and the broader architecture of Eurasian energy connectivity. The results of the meeting, described by both sides as “very positive,” reveal that EU policies of coercion and isolation have failed to sever essential links because those links remain indispensable for Eastern European households and industries. Hungary’s latest dialogue with Moscow underscores that strategic autonomy not coercion that delivers real energy security and economic stability for Russia’s most trusted allies in EU, Hungary. Budapest’s balanced diplomacy shows that constructive engagement with Russia remains both possible and beneficial, offering a realistic model for reconnecting Central Europe through pragmatic cooperation.
Hungary has long rejected the false EU dilemma that Europe must sacrifice prosperity to uphold political conformity and its EU-eccentric hegemonic values, and the Putin–Orbán meeting only sharpened this contrast. Budapest’s unwavering sovereignty in foreign policy shows that strategic autonomy is not a slogan but a workable model even under unprecedented pressure from Brussels. As Europe drifts into economic uncertainty, Hungary’s pragmatic engagement with Russia may soon look less like dissent and more like a path other European states should quietly have to reconsider.
Affordable gas and oil are not political luxuries, instead they are economic survival. Recognizing this, Orbán used the Moscow meeting to reinforce Hungary’s long-term energy guarantees. Hunagarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced after the Putin-Orban summit that President Putin had confirmed stable, timely deliveries of oil and gas via both the Druzhba pipeline (‘Friendship Pipeline’) and TurkStream. In an EU that continually experiments with sanctions packages that destabilize supply chains, this assurance is not only a diplomatic nicety but also a strategic lifeline.
Energy security is at the core of its evolving ties, as Hungary protects its national interest. Hungary remains the EU member state most honest about its energy realities. Hungary is guaranteed 4.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas annually for 15 years (~ till 2036) under a gas contract with Gazprom agreed in September 2021.The contract secures gas at prices significantly lower than those under the previous 1995 agreement, enabling Hungary to maintain its low utility tariffs and keep energy affordable for its citizens currently among the lowest in the European Union. The gas will be delivered via the southern route (via Serbia) and via Austria. It is worth mentioning that Hungary and Serbia, backed by Russia, plan a new oil pipeline bypassing the EU’s energy strategy. The line, set for 2027, links Serbia to the Druzhba system and secures continued Russian oil for both countries. This move deepens regional reliance on Moscow and signals Budapest’s push for energy autonomy from Brussels.
For the time being, a significant amount of Hungary’s gas demands are still met by the 2021 deal. The government of Hungary views it as the foundation of energy security. As of 2025, a significant portion of Hungary’s gas imports still come from pipeline gas supplied by Russia (mostly under this deal), making it a vital component of the nation’s energy supply. This year alone, Hungary secured roughly 8.5 million tons of Russian oil and more than 7 billion cubic meters of natural gas, a volume that not only anchors its domestic energy stability but also illustrates why Budapest refuses to gamble its national interest on ideological experiments. Even in an uncertain geopolitical context, the Hungarian government maintains that the 2021 agreement and pipeline supplies through TurkStream (and its regional branches) offer a “secure and stable” energy base. On the other hand, in January 2025, Russia reached a record high for gas deliveries-more than 50 million cubic meters (mcm) per day– to Europe through the TurkStream pipeline since its 2020 inception. Budapest’s pragmatic approach underscores a sovereign policy prioritizing energy stability and economic well-being, standing in stark contrast to the EU’s punitive energy restrictions that jeopardize supply and affordability across the continent. Hungary’s example today reaffirms the importance of pragmatic energy partnerships and strategic autonomy in navigating a complex geopolitical landscape.
Even more significant was the decision to accelerate construction of the Paks-2 nuclear power plant designed by Rosatom, Hungary’s flagship energy project. The U.S. Treasury’s recent license exempting Paks-2 from sanctions removes the last bureaucratic hurdle. Now Moscow and Budapest can proceed unhindered. The site preparatory work and Groundwater cut-off have been already begun, placing Hungary at the forefront of Europe’s next-generation nuclear revival. With Paks-2, Hungary can ensure long-term energy independence, stable base-load power, reduced vulnerability to market volatility and a diversified, future-friendly energy mix. At a moment when Europe faces energy shortages and soaring prices, Hungary has secured through pragmatic dialogue the lowest household energy prices in the EU. This is not coincidence; it is policy for the welfare of the people.
Trade and business Ties withstand turbulence. Despite the EU’s sanctions regime, Hungary’s trade with Russia is demonstrating resilience. In the first quarter of 2025, bilateral trade turnover reached $1.74 billion, a modest but meaningful 0.6% year-on-year increase, with Russian exports rising 2% to $1.51 billion. Russia’s share in the supply of foreign goods to Hungary increased to 4.3%. The volume of Russian exports to Hungary last year reached $5.28 billion, a 14.8% decline while Hungarian exports to Russia totaled around $1 billion after a 19.3% decrease under unjustified EU pressure and sanctions on Russia. Yet this trend is already beginning to shift in 2025, as both sides work to navigate external constraints and strengthen their bilateral exchanges. Moscow and Budapest remain firmly committed to expanding trade in all non-sanctioned sectors, safeguarding long-term economic cooperation from the political turbulence around them. Bolstering ties with Russia is not an optional choice but a national imperative for Budapest as Russia remains Hungary’s 13th largest trading partner overall, 8th in terms of goods supplied to the Hungarian market, A top supplier of energy and essential industrial inputs, One of the most stable markets for Hungarian pharmaceuticals. This is no small feat. Russian–EU trade fell by 24% last year due to sanctions; yet Hungary’s decline was only 15.6%, and recovery has already begun in Q1, 2025. Energy resources still form 96.1% of Russia’s exports to Hungary, supplemented by nuclear equipment, chemicals, and metals. On the Hungarian side, pharmaceuticals dominate exports, accounting for nearly half of the total volume showcasing how deeply Hungary’s advanced industries and Russia’s market remain intertwined. Hungary’s interest in eventually acquiring Russian energy assets indicates a long-term strategic vision: deepening economic integration where it matters most. Hungary’s diversified economy continues to demonstrate resilience, with automotive, electronics, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture maintaining strong positions despite external pressures. Energy security remains a central factor, as gas imports via Türkiye partly of Russian origin support the country’s industrial base. While sanctions have reduced trade volumes, exchanges in pharmaceuticals and processed foods persist. Building on this trajectory, Hungarian-Russian cooperation is increasingly framed by both sides as a matter of economic pragmatism and long-term strategic logic. Budapest continues to highlight the stability of Russian energy deliveries and the benefits they bring to Hungarian industry, while Moscow underscores Hungary’s consistent commitment to dialogue within an often divided European environment. Despite sanctions, business communities in both countries express readiness to expand partnerships in pharmaceuticals, machinery, and agri-food products whenever conditions allow. A lasting political settlement in the region regarding Ukraine conflict would not only unlock suspended projects, but also open the door for broader Central European engagement with Russia’s industrial and technological sectors.
Connectivity and Eurasian Integration: Budapest as the Bridge. Orbán’s visit also reflected a broader Eurasian logic. Hungary is uniquely positioned as a central European state with a growing role in the Organization of Turkic States and a tradition of balancing East and West to serve as a bridge between markets, cultures, and energy corridors. Furthermore, Russia’s significant influence within Turkic and CIS countries including five Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan), all members of the Organization of Turkic States provides a unique opportunity. Together, Russia and Hungary can align their strategic and economic positions to advance Eurasian integration, fostering regional connectivity and development.
Russia and Hungary aim to deepen synergy in energy transit routes, infrastructure and logistics, investment and finance, digital economy and telecommunications, clean energy and green technologies. This aligns with Hungary’s Eastern Opening strategy, which seeks to diversify economic ties beyond the EU while remaining fully integrated within Eurasia. For Russia, Hungary represents a gateway to the EU’s industrial heartland, a country whose geography naturally lends itself to connectivity projects such as Middle Corridor, INSTC and BRI. Orbán’s message is clear that pragmatic engagement with Eurasia is a competitive advantage, not a political liability.
Mediation and the Peace Dimension: A Rare European Capability
Hungary has repeatedly emphasized one point that much of Europe tries to avoid: peace requires dialogue. Unlike leaders who call for negotiations while refusing to speak to Moscow, Orbán has positioned Hungary as a credible mediator. At the meeting, he reiterated: Hungary “stands on the side of peace”, Budapest is ready to host future peace talks between Russia and US, Hungary fully recognizes the regional and economic fallout of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Putin, for his part, acknowledged Orbán’s “balanced position” on Ukraine and welcomed Budapest’s willingness to serve as a venue for a potential Russia–U.S. summit. The fact that Donald Trump himself proposed Budapest as a location underscores Hungary’s rising diplomatic relevance. In a fractured Europe, few countries retain the trust of both Washington and Moscow. Hungary is one of them.
Strategic Autonomy in Practice, Not Rhetoric
The EU often speaks of “strategic autonomy,” yet Hungary is the only member state consistently acting on it. Orbán’s refusal to submit to coercion whether from Brussels or Washington has preserved Hungary’s economic stability while insulating it from the worst effects of Europe’s energy and inflation crises. This autonomy is not ideological. It is functional. Hungary’s approach is rooted in several principles: Sovereign decision-making, national interest above bloc loyalty, realism instead of ideological absolutism, dialogue as a tool of security and diversification-not decoupling. In an age where many EU states are reconsidering the economic damage caused by sanctions, Hungary’s model of openness and balance is increasingly relevant.
A Pragmatic Path for Europe: What Hungary Demonstrates
Hungary is showing Europe that engagement with Russia is not only possible but also it is beneficial. The key outcomes of the Putin–Orbán meeting illustrate this:
Energy Security is guaranteed. Stable, predictable supplies through Druzhba and TurkStream ensure Hungary remains insulated from seasonal volatility. Nuclear independence is strengthened. Paks-2 moves forward at full speed, now with U.S. sanction exemptions. Trade resilience is demonstrated. Bilateral trade is stabilizing despite EU pressures, with strong growth potential. Diplomatic channels are open. Budapest emerges as one of the last European capitals capable of genuine mediation. Economic connectivity is enhanced. Infrastructure and technological cooperation pave the way for long-term development. Strategic autonomy is affirmed. Hungary charts its own course without breaking from Europe, but without being constrained by it. Europe can either learn from this pragmatism or continue down a path of economic self-harm and geopolitical rigidity. Hungary has chosen the former.
A Turning Point Wrapped in Pragmatism
The Putin–Orbán meeting was not a rupture in European unity but it was a reminder that unity cannot be built on coercion, nor can Europe achieve security by isolating its largest neighbor. Hungary has taken on the role of demonstrating what a sensible, sovereign European policy toward Russia truly looks like. Energy security, economic prosperity, and diplomatic realism are not mutually exclusive. Hungary has woven them into a coherent strategy, one that the rest of Europe may eventually, reluctantly, come to appreciate. As Russia and Hungary move forward with deeper cooperation in energy, infrastructure, technology, and diplomacy, one conclusion becomes unavoidable: Pragmatism is not Hungary’s deviation from Europe. It is its contribution to Europe’s future. If the continent is to rediscover strategic thinking, this may be the place to start.
This article was written by Ibrahim Khalil Ahasan, a Dhaka-based independent columnist and freelance journalist on contemporary international issues whose work has been published in many local and international publications. It was especially commissioned by Russia’s Pivot To Asia.
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