Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban showered U.S. President Donald Trump with reward throughout his White Home go to on Friday in an effort to safe an exemption to threatened U.S. sanctions. Though Orban is considered one of Trump’s fiercest allies on the world stage, their friendship has develop into strained in current months over Budapest’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Final month, Trump introduced sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil corporations to attempt to reduce off the Kremlin’s foremost supply of funding for its warfare effort. These will take impact on Nov. 21. However Washington’s penalties don’t finish there. Trump additionally threatened to impose secondary sanctions towards nations that proceed to buy Russian oil—particularly, China, India, and Hungary.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban showered U.S. President Donald Trump with reward throughout his White Home go to on Friday in an effort to safe an exemption to threatened U.S. sanctions. Though Orban is considered one of Trump’s fiercest allies on the world stage, their friendship has develop into strained in current months over Budapest’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Final month, Trump introduced sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil corporations to attempt to reduce off the Kremlin’s foremost supply of funding for its warfare effort. These will take impact on Nov. 21. However Washington’s penalties don’t finish there. Trump additionally threatened to impose secondary sanctions towards nations that proceed to buy Russian oil—particularly, China, India, and Hungary.
Budapest is the most important purchaser of Russian crude within the European Union. And whereas different EU nations are working to wean themselves off Russian vitality, Hungary has gone the opposite route. Since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Hungary’s reliance on Russian oil jumped from 61 % pre-invasion to 86 % in 2024.
Orban has repeatedly denounced penalties on nations that purchase Russian oil, accusing them of injuring Hungary’s economic system at a time when the prime minister is dealing with considered one of his hardest reelection bids in his profession. Notably, Orban has additionally been one of many friendliest European leaders towards Moscow’s ambitions. Like Trump, he has beforehand steered that Ukraine cede territory to Russia to finish the warfare.
Hungary already has an exemption from European Union sanctions on Russian crude. However to get one from america, specialists counsel that Orban may have to supply concessions, similar to dropping his opposition to NATO sending navy assist to Ukraine and his stance towards permitting Kyiv to hitch the EU.
Learn extra in in the present day’s World Temporary: Orban Seeks Exemption From U.S. Penalties on Russian Oil Imports.
This put up is a part of FP’s ongoing protection of the Trump administration. Observe alongside right here.
