US grants Hungary one-year exemption from Russian oil sanctions After Orban-Trump talks

The United States has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from US sanctions on Russian oil and gas, a White House official said on November 7.

The decision followed a meeting in Washington between Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and US President Donald Trump, during which Orban made a direct appeal for relief, Caliber.Az reports via Reuters. 

The White House official noted that as part of the exemption agreement, Hungary committed to purchasing US liquefied natural gas under contracts worth about $600 million.

Orban, a long-time Trump ally, argued that Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy was a matter of geography and economic necessity. 

“Pipelines is not an ideological or political issue. It's a physical reality because we don't have port, exactly as the president explained to you. So, we will negotiate on that point. It's vital for us,” Orban said. He added that the issue was “vital for Hungary,” pledging to outline “the consequences for the Hungarian people, and for the Hungarian economy, not to get oil and gas from Russia.”

Trump, who has urged European nations to halt imports of Russian energy, acknowledged Hungary’s unique position. When asked if he would consider granting an exemption, he replied, “We're looking at it, because it's very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas. As you know, they don't have, they don't have the advantage of having sea.”

Before the meeting, Orban told Hungarian state media that he expected the discussions to be “friendly and easy,” despite the high stakes.

“All diplomatic negotiations are hard, but I expect a friendly and easy negotiation,” he said. “I know the president, he knows me, we know the subject, we simply have to reach an agreement.”

Trump has sought to curb global purchases of Russian oil as part of efforts to pressure Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. His administration imposed an additional 25% tariff on imports from India over its continued purchases of Russian crude and urged European leaders to stop buying Russian oil altogether. Most European nations halted Russian crude imports in 2022 and Russian fuel in 2023, though Hungary and Slovakia have continued receiving supplies through pipeline networks.

Hungary has maintained its reliance on Russian energy since the start of the 2022 conflict in Ukraine, drawing criticism from several European Union and NATO allies. Last month, Orban said he was seeking ways to circumvent US sanctions on Russian oil companies such as Rosneft and Lukoil.

By Sabina Mammadli