Hungary Commits to $600 Million US LNG Deal as Trump Backs Orban on Hard-Line Immigration Policy
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The United States has granted Hungary a one-year exemption from U.S. sanctions targeting Russian oil and gas, a decision that followed a meeting between President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. The move represents a significant carve-out from the Trump administration’s broader efforts to pressure Europe into cutting its reliance on Russian energy sources.
The exemption was confirmed after the two leaders, who share a strong personal rapport and hard-line views on immigration, met at the White House on Friday.
Despite the U.S. previously imposing Ukraine-related sanctions on major Russian energy companies, a White House official confirmed the temporary reprieve for Budapest, noting that President Trump appeared sympathetic to Hungary’s reliance on pipeline deliveries as a landlocked nation.
In exchange for the sanctions exemption, Hungary has committed to purchasing U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) with contracts valued at approximately $600 million. The bilateral meeting also focused on strengthening overall economic cooperation between the two nations.
In a display of political solidarity, President Trump also openly expressed support for Prime Minister Orbán’s upcoming election, highlighting their shared hard-line stance on immigration policies.
The granting of the sanctions waiver to Hungary is likely to be viewed critically by some European allies and U.S. lawmakers who have urged Hungary to reduce its energy dependence on Russia in line with broader continental efforts.
