President Donald Trump has granted his authoritarian Hungarian ally Viktor Orban a special exemption from Russian energy sanctions, a major boost for the populist right whose 15-year rule the MAGA movement has used as a blueprint.
Orban visited Trump in Washington on Friday, and one of his apparent goals was to win an exception to the latest sanctions imposed on Russian oil and gas companies last month.
Hungary is a major importer of Russian energy, and the sanctions were set to squeeze its already faltering economy ahead of elections next year that pose the biggest challenge to what the European Union calls “Orban’s hybrid system of electoral authoritarianism.”
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He said that Hungary was in a “completely different situation” from other European countries, noting that it would be “impossible” to secure affordable energy if sanctions remained in place.
A White House official told Reuters that Hungary received a one-year exemption from US sanctions for its use of Russian oil and gas.
The US State Department said that Hungary had agreed at the same time to purchase US liquefied natural gas, noting that the value of the contracts was expected to reach about $600 million.
The two countries also agreed to work together on nuclear energy, with Hungary agreeing to purchase US nuclear fuel, which it currently purchases from Russia.
Under Orbán as prime minister, Hungary was one of the only EU member states to maintain warm relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Orban has also cultivated close ties with Trump allies in Washington, participating in CPAC stages, coordinating through think tanks, and synchronizing anti-immigrant and anti-woke messaging across the Atlantic.
In comments to state radio last week, Orban explained that he would try to “make the Americans understand” that Hungary needs a portion of its ongoing Russian energy purchases.
Hungarian officials said in the run-up to the meeting that the prime minister aimed to discuss the path to a US-Russian meeting and seek exemptions from US energy sanctions. International Monetary Fund figures show that Hungary relied on Russia for 74% of its gas needs and 86% of its oil in 2024.
Trump canceled his planned summit with Putin, which was scheduled to be held in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, after the Russian leader stuck to his tough demands about ending his war in Ukraine.
Associated Press and Reuters Contribute.