US grants Hungary exemption on Russia sanctions after warm Trump-Orban meeting

9/11/2025 6:28

Hungary said on Saturday it had obtained an indefinite waiver from U.S. sanctions for using Russian oil and gas, contradicting a White House official who

said it had been granted a one-year exemption.



Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed Ukraine-related sanctions on Russian oil companies Lukoil and Rosneft that carried a threat of further sanctions against entities that buy oil from those firms.



Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a long-time Trump ally, met with Trump at the White House on Friday to press for a reprieve. Hungary relies heavily on Russian energy and Orban, 15 years in power, faces the prospect of a close election next year.