US President Donald Trump says he will consider allowing Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban to buy Russian oil, in an exemption from sanctions aimed at helping to end the Ukraine war.
Speaking on Friday during Orban’s visit to the White House, Trump said an allowance might be made because “it’s very difficult for him [Orban] to get the oil and gas from other areas”.
The comments come after the US effectively blacklisted two of Russia’s largest oil companies last month, threatening sanctions on those that buy from them.
Following the meeting, Hungary’s foreign minister wrote on X that the US had given Budapest “a full and unlimited exemption from sanctions on oil and gas”.
Trump added that while Hungary faced unique logistical challenges, including access to a sea that could be used to drill oil, he was “very disturbed” by other European countries that he said continued to buy Russian commodities despite not being landlocked.
Orban, who is one of Trump’s closest allies in Europe and who has long resisted EU efforts to pressure Moscow over Ukraine, has defended his energy ties with Russia, saying on Friday that pipelines are neither “ideological” nor “political”, but a “physical reality” due to the lack of ports.
He has been using his country’s heavy dependence on Russian oil and gas as a means to maintain his good relations with Moscow, as well as a platform upon which he hopes to win re-election next April in Hungary. He has promised “cheap Russian energy” to voters.
Trump and Orban also discussed the war in Ukraine on Friday – their first formal talks since Trump returned to power – including the possibility of holding talks with Putin.
“He [Orban] understands Putin and knows him very well… I think that Viktor feels we’re going to get that war ended in the not-too-distant future”, Trump said.
The Hungarian leader, meanwhile, said only their two nations truly wanted peace in Ukraine.
“All the other governments prefer to continue the war because many of them think that Ukraine can win on the front line, which is a misunderstanding of the situation.”
Trump asked him: “So you would say that Ukraine cannot win that war?” To which Orban replied: “You know, a miracle can happen.”
Aside from the issue of oil and gas sanctions, Hungary’s export-driven car industry has been hit by Trump’s tariffs on European goods, adding to an already weak economy.
Despite frequent clashes with EU leaders over migration, democracy, and the rule of law, Trump urged Europe to “respect this leader very, very strongly because he’s been right on immigration.”
with additional reporting by Nick Thorpe
