Orbán Heads to White House to Propose Trump-Putin Peace Summit and Seek Russian Oil Sanction Relief

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will visit the White House on Friday to discuss a potential Trump-Putin peace summit aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. Orbán has suggested hosting the meeting in Budapest and hopes to position himself as a key mediator in global diplomacy.
Beyond the peace effort, Orbán will request an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports, testing President Trump’s newly toughened stance toward Moscow. Insiders say Orbán’s main objective, however, is securing a visit from Trump to Hungary ahead of his country’s parliamentary elections in April. The visit would bolster his image domestically and energize his conservative base.
Hungary’s government has maintained close ties with both Trump and Putin, often clashing with European partners over sanctions and energy policy. Orbán’s team believes a Trump-Putin meeting could help advance negotiations toward a ceasefire and solidify Hungary’s role as a diplomatic bridge between East and West.
U.S. and European officials remain cautious about Hungary’s intentions, particularly its continued reliance on Russian energy. Orbán’s government has openly stated its goal of maintaining oil and gas imports from Russia despite Western sanctions. The White House meeting is expected to clarify how far Trump’s administration is willing to go in enforcing energy restrictions abroad and whether any concessions will be made to Budapest.
Domestically, Orbán’s team has framed the visit as a major diplomatic achievement, using it to strengthen his image as an influential global leader ahead of elections. Political analysts note that even a short private meeting with Trump could have significant political value for Orbán at home.