Poland breaks ranks with Orbán over Kremlin courtship

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has cancelled his planned bilateral meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, following the latter’s visit to Moscow and his talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. The decision was announced on Sunday by Marcin Przydacz, head of the Bureau of International Policy in the Polish President’s Office, who posted on the social platform X that Nawrocki would restrict his trip to Hungary to participation in the Visegrad Group presidential summit in Esztergom.

Przydacz emphasised that Nawrocki has consistently supported real and practical solutions to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. He linked the president’s stance to the legacy of former Polish head of state Lech Kaczyński, who argued that Europe’s security depends on solidarity – including in the energy sector. Against the backdrop of Orbán’s Moscow trip and its implications, Przydacz said Nawrocki had decided to “limit the programme” of his visit and forego bilateral talks with the Hungarian prime minister.

Nawrocki is scheduled to travel to Hungary on 3 December to attend the two-day Visegrad Group summit with the presidents of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. A separate official visit to Budapest on 4 December – which was to include a meeting with Orbán – has been cancelled. Even before Przydacz’s announcement, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticised the original plan, writing on X that “Orbán visits Putin, Nawrocki visits Orbán. Chaos in negotiations on the Witkoff plan and the political crisis in Kyiv. A fatal combination”.

Orbán’s visit to Moscow on 28 November was his third since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. During talks with Putin, the Hungarian leader reiterated his call for a swift end to the war and made clear that Budapest expects continued access to Russian energy resources. He also argued that Ukraine should serve as a buffer state between NATO and Russia in any post-war settlement.

In an interview with Welt am Sonntag, Orbán said the “only possible long-term solution” would be for Ukraine to return to its earlier role as a buffer state, with Russia retaining the territory it controls at the moment of a future peace agreement. Everything west of that line, he said, would remain Ukrainian territory, which should form the “buffer” between Russia and NATO. He added that the size and equipment of Ukraine’s armed forces should be agreed jointly by Moscow and NATO for deployment in the buffer zone. According to Orbán, it is time to abandon “illusions” and face reality, citing what he described as a 28-point U.S. peace blueprint: that time favours Russia rather than Ukraine, and that sanctions will gradually be lifted as Russia reintegrates into the global economy.

Hungary’s deepening energy cooperation with Russia was also highlighted by Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó, who met journalists after the Moscow talks. He said Russia had confirmed deliveries of contracted oil and gas volumes via the Druzhba pipeline and Turkish Stream, and announced progress on the Paks II nuclear power plant – a project financed by Moscow. Preparatory technical work is reportedly on schedule, with construction at the site set to begin on 5 February. The United States recently issued a general licence allowing certain transactions linked to Paks II, lifting earlier restrictions.

Szijjártó insisted that Hungary’s position on the war remains unchanged – that the country supports “peace” while not being a party to the conflict – and framed cooperation with Russia as a matter of national interest and energy security. He also said Putin had confirmed Budapest’s readiness to host a future peace summit, should one be convened.

Orbán’s stance continues to put him at odds with EU and NATO partners, particularly over energy dependence on Russia. He has previously threatened legal action against the EU’s plans to wind down purchases of Russian gas, calling them a violation of the rules and an attempt to “remove a government that disagrees with Brussels”. After meeting U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House earlier in November, Orbán said Hungary had received assurances that it would be exempt from sanctions targeting Russian energy imports.

The diplomatic fallout from Orbán’s Moscow visit has been further sharpened by renewed Russian strikes on Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said the Kremlin had exploited the Hungarian prime minister’s presence in Moscow to advance its own narrative and undermine regional unity.

Nawrocki’s decision to distance himself from Orbán underscores the growing divergence between Warsaw and Budapest – once close allies within the EU – on the war in Ukraine, relations with Moscow and regional security. As the Visegrad leaders gather in Esztergom, those differences are likely to shape the tone and substance of the discussions.

Sources: European Pravda, Suspilne

Caption: Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, 28 November 2025. EPA/ALEXANDER NEMENOV / POOL