WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said on Friday he’s considering granting Hungary an exemption from U.S. sanctions on Russian energy as he met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the White House. Trump remarked, 'We’re looking at it because it’s very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas.'
Orbán described the energy issue as a “vital” matter for Hungary, a landlocked country, and underscored the consequences for the Hungarian populace were sanctions enforced.
He noted his intention to present several 'suggestions' for an exemption, stating, 'I am not asking for some kind of gift from the Americans, but for the acknowledgment that the sanctions put certain countries, like Hungary, in an impossible situation.'
A large delegation of Hungarian cabinet members and business leaders accompanied Orbán to Washington on a chartered flight. Prior to Orbán's visit, lawmakers from both sides of the aisle introduced a resolution urging Hungary to reduce its reliance on Russian energy.
The resolution, supported by influential senators like Mitch McConnell and Jeanne Shaheen, emphasizes that Hungary must align with the European Union’s plan to eliminate Russian energy imports by 2027. Senator Shaheen stated, 'Europe has made extraordinary progress cutting its energy ties with Moscow, but Hungary undermines collective security.'
On a positive note, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó mentioned plans to sign a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation agreement with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which would facilitate Hungary's first purchases of American nuclear fuel and leverage U.S. technology for managing spent fuel at nuclear facilities in Hungary.
Meanwhile, Orbán met with Eduardo Bolsonaro in Washington, expressing solidarity with his family amidst the political troubles they face in Brazil, stating, 'We stand firmly with the Bolsonaros in these challenging times.'
