White House denies Orbán’s claim of indefinite US sanctions exemption
Photo: US President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán (GettyImages)
The administration of US President Donald Trump has denied claims by the Hungarian side that Budapest was allegedly exempt from American sanctions on the import of Russian oil and gas. Washington emphasized that the exemption applies only for one year, according to Reuters.
According to the agency, discrepancies arose following the visit of a Hungarian delegation to the United States. Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó wrote on Facebook that the negotiations were “completely successful” and claimed that the prime minister had allegedly secured an unlimited exemption from sanctions.
"The prime minister was clear. He has agreed with the US President that we have obtained an indefinite exemption from the sanctions," Szijjártó wrote.
However, a White House representative, in a comment to Reuters, rejected these claims, clarifying that the exemption will remain in effect only for one year.
According to the American side, the agreement also stipulates that Hungary commits to diversifying its energy supplies and purchasing approximately $600 million worth of US liquefied natural gas.
Orbán "secured" exemption from sanctions — but there’s a catch
In comments to Hungarian media, Viktor Orbán stated that the country would continue to receive Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline, claiming that the United States had made an exception for Budapest from the sanctions.
American media report that Washington indeed granted Hungary a one-year exemption from sanctions related to the use of Russian energy resources. However, this decision comes at a price: Hungary agreed to purchase US LNG worth about $600 million.
Still, the role of the United States in this issue is limited. The key control over the transit of Russian oil to Europe lies with Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has already emphasized that Kyiv will not allow Russia to continue supplying oil to the EU.
Given the numerous strikes by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces on facilities of the Druzhba pipeline, the possibility of continued deliveries of Russian oil to Hungary is becoming increasingly unrealistic.
Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó insists that Hungary has allegedly received an “unlimited exemption” from sanctions that could have been imposed on Budapest for purchasing gas and oil from Russia.
