Orbán Expected To Visit Moscow For Talks With Putin, But Trip Remains Unconfirmed (Worthy News Focus)

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

BUDAPEST/MOSCOW (Worthy News) – Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is widely expected to travel to Moscow on Friday for high-stakes talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on ending the war in Ukraine, according to several Ukrainian, European, and Hungarian sources.

The reported trip, which was not yet officially confirmed on Thursday, sparked nervousness in Kyiv and Brussels, intensifying fears that Hungary could once again break ranks with its European partners.

A Hungarian government spokesperson said he could “neither confirm nor deny” Orbán’s travel plans, adding that foreign trips are announced “at the appropriate time.”

The comment reflects the government’s customary tight-lipped approach to sensitive diplomatic engagements with Russia — especially amid tensions within the European Union over such a gathering, analysts noted.

Russian state media have not published an official schedule listing talks with Orbán. However, diplomatic sources in Kyiv and Brussels say Russian officials have been preparing for the meeting in secret.

LINK TO UKRAINE PEACE TALKS

Diplomats familiar with the reported meeting say the Orbán–Putin talks are linked to ongoing discussions surrounding a proposed U.S.-backed peace plan for Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump said this week that his administration’s draft 28-point peace plan is “just a map,” indicating it remains flexible and is not a final proposal.

The president also claimed Moscow had shown willingness to “stop fighting and not take more land,” as Russia is “making concessions.”

Kyiv reportedly considers parts of the U.S. proposal “acceptable in principle,” while stressing that several points “require further clarification.”

The revisions emphasize Ukraine’s sovereignty and internationally recognized borders, long-term security guarantees, and coordination with European allies, officials explained — as previously reported by Worthy News.

ORBÁN SEEKS TO BE A BRIDGE

With talks ongoing, Viktor Orbán — widely recognized as one of the EU’s most pro-Moscow leaders — is said to be positioning himself as a “bridge” between Trump, Putin, and the European Union during a pivotal stage in the conflict.

Orbán, who has cultivated close ties with Trump, previously suggested Budapest could host a Trump–Putin meeting. It remains unclear whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would agree, given his tense relationship with Hungary’s government.

Some observers warn that Friday’s expected gathering could deepen divisions in Europe, as the United States and Russia exert heavy influence over the shape of any future settlement.

Ukrainian officials have publicly expressed concern over Orbán’s increasingly active diplomacy.

Several told local media that Kyiv does not support negotiations from which Ukraine is excluded, warning that any separate talks risk undermining Ukraine’s position.

‘HUNGARY NOT NOTIFYING EU’

Brussels also responded nervously. EU officials warned that a wartime visit by Orbán to Moscow could “seriously undermine EU unity,” especially as the bloc continues its sanctions regime against Russia.

They noted that Hungary had not notified its EU partners through official channels.

So far, no EU disciplinary action has been announced against Hungary over the reported Moscow get-together.

Yet analysts caution that the potential talks could carry far-reaching geopolitical implications — including for Ukraine peace efforts and Hungary’s already strained relationships with other EU member states.

A meeting with Putin would underscore Budapest’s increasingly independent and controversial foreign-policy stance.

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