The trip to Moscow is the second since last year for Orbán, who is widely considered Putin’s closest partner among all EU leaders. Hungary is one of only a few EU countries to continue importing large quantities of Russian fossil fuels, and Orbán has strongly opposed efforts by the bloc to wean its 27 member nations off Russian energy supplies.

The Russian leader said he felt Washington was taking his position into account, but that some things still needed to be discussed when a U.S. delegation visits Moscow next week.

Vladimir Putin’s two-day India visit on December 4 comes at a critical moment for world politics. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the Russian president for the annual India-Russia Summit, where key defence decisions are on the table.

The Russian leader wants far more than just the conquest of eastern Ukraine.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow Friday to shore up Hungary’s energy supplies and discuss efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Russian leadership is spreading false claims about the situation in Kupiansk. Ukrainian troops continue clearing the town of remaining Russian forces, stated Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi.