Trump To Consider Russia Oil Sanctions Exemption For Hungary

US President Donald Trump welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the White House on Friday for their first bilateral meeting since Trump returned to power in January.

As the leaders met, Trump promised to consider a waiver for Hungary on Russian oil sanctions.

"We are looking at it because it is very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas. As you know they don't have the advantage of having sea," he said.

Meanwhile, Orban said he would explain to Trump "what would be the consequences for the Hungarian people and for the Hungarian economy not to get oil and gas from Russia."

"Because we are supplied by pipelines. Pipeline is not an ideological or political issue. It's a physical reality because we don't have port(s)," Orban said.

Trump calls on Europe to 'respect' Hungary

Trump also said that European Union leaders should show more respect to Orban, who has thumbed his nose at them over migration.

"I think they should respect Hungary and respect this leader very, very strongly because he's been right on immigration," he said.

Trump said their meeting will focus on energy cooperation, trade and the war in Ukraine. The leaders will also discuss a path toward a US-Russia summit. Last month, Trump announced that he would meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest. However, the meeting was postponed after Russia rejected a ceasefire.

Shortly before a meeting between Trump and Orban, Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto revealed plans to buy nuclear fuel rods from the United States. According to a report by the state agency MTI, the rods would be used in two Russian-built nuclear power plants.

Hungary's reliance on Russian oil

Orban is a longtime Trump ally, and the two leaders share similar views on immigration. However, the topic of Russian oil has soured their relationship.

Trump has insisted that European nations stop buying Russian oil to cut off Moscow's funding for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. However, Hungary has continued to rely on Russian energy since the start of the wart in Ukraine in 2022.

According to International Monetary Fund figures, Hungary relied on Russia for 74% of its gas and 86% of its oil in 2024. The Fund warned that a cutoff of Russian natural gas alone could result in output losses in Hungary exceeding 4% of its GDP.

Hungary has pushed back against the European Commission's plans to phase out EU imports of all Russian gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2027. This deepens the rift between Hungary and Brussels over relations with Moscow.

Edited by: Zac Crellin

Source: DW