President Donald Trump has indicated that his administration is “looking at” granting Hungary an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian oil during talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the White House. Trump acknowledged Hungary’s heavy reliance on pipeline-delivered Russian crude and said the land-locked nation faces unique energy-access problems.
The announcement comes just weeks after the U.S. imposed sanctions on Russia’s major oil companies in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Hungary, which obtains roughly 86 percent of its oil from Russia, has argued the sanctions jeopardize its energy security and economy.The White House meeting also featured discussions on deeper trade and energy cooperation, including Hungary’s offer to purchase U.S. liquefied natural gas and explore nuclear-fuel agreements in exchange for relief from the sanctions regime. The shift signals a potential softening of U.S. policy toward an ally that has clashed with other European governments over Russia and EU energy policy.