The Hungarian prime minister hopes to join forces with Andrej Babiš, whose right-wing populist party won the Czech parliamentary elections, and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico to coordinate their positions ahead of EU meetings, including discussions prior to summits.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing foreign buyers to pay for Russian gas through more than one financial institution.
Budapest's move has cast a shadow over the impending passage of the next sanctions package at a crucial meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Orban's statement comes after pressure is intensifying on Hungary's head of state, Katalin Novák, to step down following revelations that she granted a presidential pardon to an individual convicted as an accomplice in a child sexual abuse case.
Hungary decided to use its veto in May after 10 EU countries requested Moshensky be included in the sanction list.
Several authors terminated their contracts with Libri, fearing the Orban government would use the publishing house for their "own ideological and political purposes."
The Hungarian government decided to exit the International Investment Bank after the United States imposed sanctions on three officials of the financial institution
Gergely Gulyas, Orban's chief of staff pointed out that Sweden's involvement in an EU lawsuit against Hungary "does not help" the ratification process.
Orban's government has launched a national consultation survey on the EU’s sanctions against Russia.