US exempts Hungary from sanctions on Russian energy
2 Min Read
Hungary secures a one-year waiver on US sanctions on Russian energy amid talks on Ukraine and a possible Putin summit.
-
Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban listens as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during a meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
The United States has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from US sanctions that prohibit the import of Russian energy resources, a White House source confirmed to Reuters on Friday.
US President Donald Trump had previously announced that his administration is considering exempting Hungary from sanctions imposed on Russian oil, citing Budapest’s heavy dependence on energy supplies from Moscow.
The statement came during a White House meeting between Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.
Hungary, a member of the European Union, has long maintained strong energy ties with Russia. Orbán has repeatedly criticized EU sanctions on Russian energy, arguing they harm European economies more than they impact Moscow.
Trump, Orbán discuss potential summit with Putin
In a related development, Trump revealed that he would discuss with Orbán the prospect of a future meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said he would like to keep Budapest as a potential venue for a US-Russia summit, noting that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains the primary reason such a summit has not yet taken place.
Trump stressed that he and Orbán allegedly agree on the possibility of resolving the Ukrainian conflict in the near future, and reiterated that he had inherited the Ukraine conflict from the Biden administration, but plans to work toward a solution.
Western approach to Ukraine 'a mistake'
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, for his part, stated that what the West did in Ukraine years ago was a grave mistake that must be stopped. He underscored that Russian oil and gas remain top priorities in his discussions with Trump.
During a joint press conference, Orbán emphasized that “many countries wish to prolong the conflict in Ukraine based on the mistaken belief that Kiev can achieve military victory.” He praised Trump’s “excellent efforts to end the Ukrainian conflict.”
Orbán also indicated that he has “several ideas for ending the war in Ukraine,” which he intends to present to Trump. The discussions, he added, would also cover economic, military, and political cooperation between the two countries.
Read more: Russia, Serbia, Hungary plan new gas pipelines bypassing Ukraine
