The USA imposed sanctions on the Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil in October. Washington justified this with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to end the war against Ukraine. Orban had pushed for an exception to the sanctions. Like Slovakia, the country continues to receive large quantities of Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline. In addition, Hungary continues to purchase natural gas from Russia on a large scale.
According to the US government representative, Hungary has now committed itself to purchasing US liquefied natural gas worth the equivalent of around 520 million euros.
The USA had already granted Germany an exemption from oil sanctions at the end of October. The punitive measures do not apply to the German subsidiaries of the Russian oil company Rosneft that are under trust. Among other things, Germany owns a majority stake in the PCK refinery in Schwedt, which supplies Berlin and northeastern Germany with fuel and heating oil. Without the exception rule, PCK might have had to file for bankruptcy.
Trump showed understanding for Hungary’s dependence on Russia: Due to a lack of access to seaports, it was “very difficult for Orban to obtain oil and gas from other regions,” said the US President.
Regarding his stalled peace efforts for Ukraine, Trump said he continues to seek a meeting with Putin. “I would like to leave it in Hungary, in Budapest,” he said. Orban could help him in the dialogue with the Kremlin boss, Trump said: “He understands Putin and knows him very well.”
Trump and Orban once again demonstrated solidarity with political opponents in the White House. Trump praised the right-wing nationalist from Budapest as a “great leader.” Before the parliamentary elections in Hungary, which are expected in the spring, Orban is under pressure: opposition leader Peter Magyar is ahead in the polls. Orban has ruled Hungary for 15 years, after an initial four-year term in office until 2002. He is the longest-serving European head of government.
Trump demanded that other European countries “respect Hungary more.” Orban was “right about immigration”. The Hungarian head of government emphasized that migration in his country was “zero”.
During the refugee crisis from 2015, Hungary refused to accept migrants. The country is also blocking a solidarity mechanism that the EU has agreed to relieve the burden on countries such as Italy and Greece.
