The Global Story - Viktor Orban’s dilemma: Trump’s favour or Russian oil
Download Viktor Orban’s dilemma: Trump’s favour or Russian oil
The man Donald Trump has called a "great leader", and who has long provoked admiration in MAGA circles, suddenly finds himself in an unusual position – at odds with the US president on an issue of critical importance.
Viktor Orban, Hungary’s prime minister, is visiting the White House on Friday to try to resolve a dispute over Russian oil and gas. Orban wants to keep buying it, but Trump wants countries to wean themselves off Russian energy and help put the brakes on Russia’s war in Ukraine. Will Trump choose to keep an old friend close, or put pressure on Putin? We speak to Nick Thorpe, the BBC’s correspondent in Budapest, who has covered Orban since the 1980s.
Producer: Viv Jones
Executive producer: James Shield
Senior news editor: China Collins
Mix: Travis Evans
Photo: U.S. President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Suzanne Plunkett, Reuters.
Published on Friday, 7th November 2025.
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