Donald Trump has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from sanctions related to its continued purchases of Russian oil and gas. This confirmation came from a White House official to BBC News. The decision follows discussions during Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to the White House.
Background on Sanctions and Discussions
The United States had previously blacklisted two major Russian oil companies last month, signaling potential sanctions against entities engaging in transactions with them. During the meeting on Friday, President Trump stated that an exemption for Hungary was under consideration, citing the country's difficulty in sourcing oil and gas from alternative regions.
Following the meeting, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó posted on X that Budapest had received "a full and unlimited exemption from sanctions on oil and gas." A US official subsequently clarified to the BBC that the exemption is time-limited to one year.
Hungary's Energy Position
Hungary, a landlocked nation, relies on Russian oil and gas. Prime Minister Orban had previously stated that sanctions on Russian energy would negatively impact Hungary's economy. During the public portion of the White House meeting, President Trump acknowledged Hungary's logistical challenges regarding energy supply, including the absence of sea access for oil drilling. He also expressed concern about other European countries that, despite not being landlocked, reportedly continue to purchase Russian commodities.
Prime Minister Orban has consistently defended Hungary's energy relationship with Russia. On Friday, he described pipelines as a "physical reality" rather than an "ideological" or "political" issue, attributing this to the lack of ports for alternative imports.
Related Agreements and European Reactions
As part of this arrangement, Hungary has agreed to purchase several hundred million dollars worth of US natural gas. This development may be met with opposition in some European capitals, where Hungary's sustained relations with Moscow have been a point of contention.
Orban has previously resisted European Union efforts to pressure Moscow regarding Ukraine. He has also campaigned on a platform of providing "cheap Russian energy" to Hungarian voters, ahead of upcoming elections in April.