#us-hungary-relations

#us-hungary-relations

Orban said Hungary had "received full exemption from sanctions" affecting Russian oil and gas delivered to Hungary from the Druzhba and TurkStream pipelines during a press briefing with Hungarian media. "We asked the president to lift the sanctions," said Orban, adding that Hungary is "in a significantly different situation than other European countries." According to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity, Hungary will be granted a one-year exemption.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday his country has been exempted from US sanctions on Russian energy after meeting President Donald Trump at the White House. Orban said Hungary had "received full exemption from sanctions" affecting Russian oil and gas delivered to Hungary from the Druzhba and TurkStream pipelines during a press briefing with Hungarian media. "We asked the president to lift the sanctions," said Orban, adding that Hungary is "in a significantly different situation than other European countries."

As the leaders met, Trump promised to consider a waiver for Hungary on Russian oil sanctions. "We are looking at it because it is very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas. As you know they don't have the advantage of having sea," he said. Meanwhile, Orban said he would explain to Trump "what would be the consequences for the Hungarian people and for the Hungarian economy not to get oil and gas from Russia." "Because we are supplied by pipelines. Pipeline is not an ideological or political issue. It's a physical reality because we don't have port(s)," Orban said.