Orban secures sanctions waiver from Trump for Russian oil and gas imports
Photo Viktor Orban, prime minister of Hungary (Getty Images)
Hungary will continue receiving Russian oil via the Druzhba pipeline, as the United States has granted exemptions to sanctions, according to comments by Orban published in Magyar Nemzet.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said at a press conference following his meeting with US President Donald Trump that Washington also held ministerial-level talks in which "all issues important from Hungary’s point of view" were discussed.
He added that Hungary obtained full exemption from sanctions for supplies via the Turkish Stream gas pipeline and the Druzhba oil pipeline. According to Orban, agreements were also reached in the field of nuclear energy: the US company Westinghouse will now join Hungarian nuclear projects, a first.
Orban emphasised that "the American side is interested in Hungary’s economic stability," and as a result a new framework of US–Hungary cooperation was created.
Trump’s decision is controversial, as he has previously sharply criticised European countries for continuing to purchase Russian oil and gas "while fighting Russia."
Orban's visit to Washington
The prime minister of Hungary visited Washington on November 7 after the US imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft.
Earlier, Orban had described Trump’s decision on new sanctions against Russia as a mistake. He also refused to stop buying oil from Russia, citing long-term contracts as his justification.
