'Full sanctions exemption' — US allows Hungary to buy Russian energy following Orban–Trump talks in Washington
The U.S. granted Hungary an exemption from sanctions imposed on Russian oil and gas use following a meeting between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Nov. 7.
"We have received a full sanctions exemption for the Turk Stream and Druzhba pipelines," Orban said. Reuters reported that the exemption was granted for one year.
Orban, a close ideological ally of Trump, has defied pressure to halt purchases of Russian oil and gas. After the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Russian energy giants Lukoil and Rosneft in late October, Orban said Hungary looked for ways to "circumvent" the restrictions.
Orban, a close Trump ally and widely seen as Putin's closest partner in the EU, has maintained ties with Moscow despite the war and has repeatedly portrayed Ukraine as a threat to Hungary’s security and economy.
Trump told the media he was "looking at" granting Hungary an exception from Russian oil sanctions in response to Budapest's plea. He added that he was "very disturbed" that there are other European countries that have not fully cut off Russian oil imports.
"Sure, we're looking at it, because it's very difficult for (Orban) to get the oil and gas from other areas," Trump said alongside the Hungarian leader. "As you know, they don't have the advantage of having sea. It's a great country, it's a big country, but they don’t have sea. They don't have the ports. And so they have a difficult problem."
The two countries also reached a nuclear fuel deal with Westinghouse to supply nuclear fuel for Hungary's Paks I power plant, and Budapest would buy U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) to diversify its energy supplies.
Orban and Trump also discussed Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, as the two seek to portray themselves as mediators in peace efforts. According to Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, Budapest is ready to host possible peace talks "once the preparations are complete."
When asked by reporters if the two leaders agree on methods to push Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table, Trump said that "I think we agree that the war is (going to) end in the not too distant future," with Orban adding that he has "some ideas" to present to Trump.
The planned Trump–Putin summit in Budapest was canceled in October shortly after being announced.
"If there is a meeting — wherever it may take place — that can genuinely lead to a ceasefire and an end to the war, Ukraine will support any such format," President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier on Nov. 7. "But if these meetings are only meant as an 'electoral fireworks show' for Orban and produce no real results, then we can't support them."
