Trump Suggests Lifting Russian Oil Sanctions on Hungary Amid War Impact
On Friday, US President Donald Trump indicated that he is contemplating providing Hungary with an exemption from sanctions on Russian oil, aiming to assist the landlocked European nation in securing its energy supplies, according to sources. During a joint meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Trump stated that the US is “looking at” Orban’s request for an exemption from the Russian oil sanctions that were imposed last month. “We’re looking at it because it’s very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas,” Trump told reporters during the bilateral lunch with the Hungarian Prime Minister. “They lack the benefit of having seas.” It is a remarkable nation. It is a vast nation. However, they lack a sea and do not possess the ports. Consequently, they face a challenging dilemma. Vice President JD Vance, State Secretary Marco Rubio, and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth also attended the bilateral lunch alongside the President of the United States.
Trump’s remarks follow the imposition of extensive sanctions by his administration on Russia’s state-run oil giants, Rosneft and Lukoil, in October, after Moscow withdrew from negotiations intended to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, according to the reports. “Every time I speak to Vladimir, I have good conversations, and then they don’t go anywhere,” Trump remarked, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I just felt it was time.” “We have waited a considerable amount of time.” The sanctions, among the most severe actions implemented by Trump since his return to office, sought to compel Moscow to make concessions regarding its continued invasion of Ukraine. However, Hungary, which depends significantly on Russian oil and gas supplied via pipelines, has consistently opposed stringent energy sanctions against Moscow. Orban, one of Europe’s few leaders maintaining close ties with Russia, described the move as “a mistake” from Hungary’s perspective.
“We are considering ways to establish a sustainable system for the Hungarian economy, as Hungary relies heavily on Russian oil and gas,” Orban stated last month. “Without them, energy prices will skyrocket, causing shortages in our supplies,” as per reports. Orban stated prior to Friday’s meeting that the pipeline network supplying oil and gas to Hungary is “vital” and that he planned to present his case directly to Trump. In their discussions, Trump and Orban addressed the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Trump indicated that the war “will end soon,” stating, “The basic dispute is they just don’t want to stop yet.” And I believe they will. “I believe it’s having a significant impact on Russia.” Both leaders concurred that it would require a “miracle” for Ukraine to achieve victory in the war.
The two men exchanged commendations during the meeting. Trump referred to Orban as “a great leader,” especially praising his stringent immigration policies. “He is held in high regard everywhere.” “Not necessarily liked by some of the leaders, but those leaders have proven to be wrong,” Trump said. “If you look at his stance on immigration, Europe made tremendous mistakes.” “He has not made a mistake.” Orban expressed gratitude to Trump for “restoring” US-Hungary relations, noting that these ties had deteriorated during the Biden administration. “Following your departure from the presidency, everything was essentially obstructed, devastated, and annulled.” Significant damage was inflicted by the prior administration. “In the last ten months, President, what you have done, we are very much grateful for that,” Orban said. “You restored the previous standard of the relationship.” The bilateral relations have seen significant improvement. “You repaired what was done badly by the previous administration,” as per reports. However, the White House did not provide an immediate comment on when a final decision regarding Hungary’s exemption request would be made.
