Viktor Orbán, Prime Minister of Hungary, visited Moscow on November 28, 2025 to meet with Vladimir Putin, continuing Hungary’s reliance on Russian oil and gas despite broader European efforts to cut ties with Moscow. Orbán — seen as the most Russia-friendly leader in the European Union — argued that the country’s economic stability depends on cheap Russian energy, rejecting EU-wide plans to phase out Russian imports by 2027. Earlier in November, Hungary secured a temporary exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy firms, which allowed it to keep importing oil and gas from Russia.

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-war-putin-orban-energy-eca23e36f25c76685c26e96042b39878This could further create more tension within the EU because Hungary is going directly against what they want- to enforce energy sanctions on Russia- and this could lead to problems with their relationship/legal troubles. In drastic measures, the EU might even carry the energy sanctions over to Hungary so they learn their lesson and stop using Russia as an oil source. 

I think that this could cause Hungary to stay friends with Russia for a longer period of time because it needs energy, which will affect how Europeans decide about sanctions. It also means that Russia gets the influence over Hungary because they are dependent on them, Hungary is more likely to do what is needed to stay friendly with them. If Russia ends up cutting off their energy because of the war sanctions, this would lead Hungary into serious economic trouble and shortages within their country. This is a good example of interdependence because Hungary needs the energy, and Russia gets the money from their need. It also shows that Hungary is following their national interest, is to keep buying cheap energy, instead of following the rest of the EU’s plan, which weakens the strength in the plan. This is a good example that even though they are in NATO and the EU, sometimes alliances don’t mean agreeing on everything together.