Crystal Dike
U.S. President Donald Trump has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from American sanctions targeting Russian energy imports, a White House official confirmed to BBC News.
The decision followed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to the White House on Friday, where Trump said he would consider an opt-out for Hungary over its continued reliance on Russian energy. The Hungarian leader, a close Trump ally, has long maintained strong ties with Moscow despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speaking during the meeting, Trump acknowledged Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy, saying it was “very difficult for him [Orban] to get oil and gas from other areas.” His remarks marked a softer tone after Washington recently blacklisted two of Russia’s biggest oil companies, threatening penalties for countries buying their products.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced on X that the U.S. had given Budapest “a full and unlimited exemption from sanctions on oil and gas.” However, American officials later clarified that the exemption would last for one year only, covering Russian energy imports.
The waiver represents a major political win for Orban, who warned that cutting off Russian energy would cripple Hungary’s economy. As part of the arrangement, Budapest agreed to purchase several hundred million dollars’ worth of U.S. natural gas — a move seen as balancing Hungary’s position between Moscow and Washington.
During the talks, Trump defended Hungary’s predicament as a landlocked country with limited supply routes, while criticizing other European states that continue to buy Russian energy despite having alternatives.
Orban, meanwhile, insisted that his country’s Russian energy ties are a matter of “physical reality, not ideology,” emphasizing that pipelines “are neither political nor moral, but practical.” He has made access to cheap Russian energy a key campaign promise ahead of Hungary’s April election.
In their discussions on the Ukraine war, Trump said Orban “understands Putin and knows him very well,” expressing optimism that peace talks could resume soon. Orban agreed, arguing that only the U.S. and Hungary truly want peace, while others “misunderstand the situation” by believing Ukraine can win militarily.
Despite tension over trade tariffs affecting Hungary’s car exports, Trump praised Orban’s leadership and urged European nations to “respect this leader very, very strongly because he’s been right on immigration.”
The Russian energy exemption underscores Trump’s willingness to accommodate allies who share his populist vision — even if it means easing sanctions that were meant to isolate Moscow. For Orban, the deal delivers both economic relief and a diplomatic victory ahead of a crucial election year.