The two leaders discussed Hungarian-Russian cooperation in the areas of oil and gas deliveries as well as nuclear energy, Bertalan Havasi told MTI.

Orbán emphasised the importance of peace, saying that an end to the flow of refugees, sanctions and the fighting was key for the entire continent, including Hungary.

US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman took to social media to express dismay, posting a photo of the two leaders with the comment, "Hungary’s leader chooses to stand with a man whose forces are responsible for crimes against humanity in Ukraine, and alone among our Allies. While Russia strikes Ukrainian civilians, Hungary pleads for business deals."

Orbán: 'End to Wave of Refugees, Sanctions, Fighting Most Important'

It would be most important for Hungarians and the whole of Europe to have an end to the wave of refugees, the sanctions and the fighting in a neighbouring country, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said in a video on Tuesday.

Orbán, who travelled to Beijing on Sunday, said he had met Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier in the day to discuss bilateral economic ties and held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the afternoon. He said in Europe everybody was asking the same question whether there was going to be a ceasefire in Ukraine.

“For us, Hungarians and for the whole of Europe, it would be most important that the flow of refugees, the sanctions and the fighting should end in the neighbouring country,” Orbán said.

The answer received from the Russian president was “the least assuring”, he said, adding that Hungary had to plan its steps accordingly in the coming months.

“This is why it is important for us, Hungarians to maintain Hungarian-Russian cooperation in energy and in other economic areas,” the prime minister said.

Over 8,000 Ukrainian Citizens Enter Hungary on Monday

Fully 4,479 Ukrainian citizens entered Hungary at the Ukraine-Hungary border on Monday, while 3,853 came to the country via Romania, according to the national police headquarters (ORFK).

​​​​​​​Police issued temporary residence permits valid for 30 days to 38 people, ORFK said.