Hungary says it received unlimited exemption from US sanctions for Russian energy
Photo: Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó
Hungary's Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó claims that Hungary has received an unlimited exemption from US sanctions that could have applied to Budapest over its purchases of gas and oil from Russia, Index reports.
After Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán met with US President Donald Trump, media reports said Orbán had secured a one-year exemption from sanctions.
Szijjártó, however, insisted the exemption is unlimited. He added that this will allow the Hungarian people to continue paying the lowest energy prices in Europe, and that the Prime Minister and the American President agreed that oil and gas supplies to Hungary will not be subject to sanctions for an unlimited period.
Szijjártó also criticized media outlets that questioned his statements or reported a one-year term, saying that those claiming otherwise were not present at the meeting, and it would have been easier to ask those who were.
Orbán secured a sanction exemption — but there's a catch
Orbán himself told Hungarian media that Hungary will continue receiving Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline. He said the US made exceptions to the sanctions.
According to American media, the United States granted Hungary a one-year exemption from US sanctions for using Russian energy. This was not without conditions. In exchange, Budapest agreed to purchase $600 million worth of American liquefied natural gas.
In reality, little depends on Trump in this matter. Ukraine holds the actual ability to control oil supplies to Hungary. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already stated that Kyiv will not allow Russia to supply oil to Europe.
Considering the numerous strikes by Ukrainian Armed Forces using unmanned systems on the Druzhba pipeline infrastructure, it is unlikely that Budapest will be able to receive oil from Russia. For more details on this issue, read RBC-Ukraine's article: "Ukraine targets Druzhba pipeline: How attacks hit Russia and why Orbán is worried"
