Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday hailed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s “balanced position” on Ukraine, as he welcomed the European Union’s most pro-Moscow leader to the Kremlin.

“I know your balanced position on the Ukrainian issue,” Putin told Orban, who consistently tries to block tougher sanctions against Moscow, has criticized aid to Ukraine, and continues to rely on Russian energy.

Orban vowed that Russia will remain a key energy supplier for his country, which faces EU and US pressure to wane off Russian energy.

“I would like to reiterate that energy supplies from Russia form the basis of Hungary’s energy supply now and will remain so in the future” he said, sitting alongside Putin. (AFP)