Hungary could be granted special treatment regarding US sanctions on Russian oil, President Donald Trump indicated during a White House meeting with Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday.
The US leader highlighted the difficulties Budapest faces in sourcing energy from alternatives, suggesting that flexibility might be needed to account for Hungary’s circumstances.
Trump explained, “it's very difficult for him [Orban] to get the oil and gas from other areas,” underscoring the logistical challenges Hungary experiences. The remarks follow the US’s recent decision to impose strict measures on two major Russian oil firms and to warn other nations against purchasing from them.
Hungary’s foreign minister later posted on X that Washington had provided Budapest "a full and unlimited exemption from sanctions on oil and gas," signaling a major shift in policy for the country.
Trump emphasized that while Hungary has unique energy challenges, he was “very disturbed” by other European nations continuing to acquire Russian resources despite having alternative options.
Orban defended his nation’s reliance on Russian pipelines, arguing that the network is not “ideological” or “political” but represents a “physical reality” due to Hungary’s limited access to ports.
He has used this energy dependency to strengthen ties with Moscow and as a campaign promise for the upcoming April elections, promising voters “cheap Russian energy.”
The leaders also focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, marking their first official discussions since Trump returned to office. “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.
Orban added that only the United States and Hungary are committed to peace, while other governments are more interested in continuing the conflict.
“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,” he said. When asked if Ukraine could prevail, Orban replied, “You know, a miracle can happen.”
Apart from sanctions, Hungary faces economic pressure from Trump’s tariffs on European exports, affecting its car manufacturing sector.
Despite his often tense relations with the European Union over migration, democracy, and the rule of law, Trump praised Orban’s approach to immigration, stating Europe should “respect this leader very, very strongly because he's been right on immigration.”
The meeting highlighted the strategic partnership between Trump and Orban, combining discussions on energy, regional security, and diplomatic approaches to Moscow, with the leaders signaling a shared commitment to addressing Ukraine’s conflict.
