Waiver from US sanctions on Russia energy is indefinite, Hungary minister insists
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Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary (centre) walking down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington on Nov 7, after meeting US President Donald Trump at the White House.
PHOTO: ANDREW LEYDEN/NYTIMES
Follow topic:
- Hungary claims an indefinite US sanctions waiver for using Russian oil/gas, contradicting a White House official's statement of a one-year exemption.
- PM Orban secured the exemption, citing risks of surging energy costs, unemployment, and price rises without it for Hungarian households and firms.
- Hungary heavily relies on Russian energy via pipelines like TurkStream and Druzhba, buying 74% of its gas and 86% of its oil from Russia.
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BUDAPEST - Hungary said on Nov 8 it had obtained an indefinite waiver from US sanctions to use Russian oil and gas, but a White House official reaffirmed that the exemption was for one year only.
In October, US President Donald Trump imposed Ukraine-related sanctions
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a longtime Trump ally, met with Mr Trump at the White House on Nov 7 to press for a reprieve.
Hungary relies heavily on Russian energy and Mr Orban, 15 years in power, faces a close election in 2026.
“The prime minister was clear. He has agreed with the US President that we have obtained an indefinite exemption from the sanctions,” Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said on Facebook. “There are no sanctions on oil and gas shipments to Hungary for an indefinite period.”
But a White House official repeated in an email to Reuters on Nov 8 that the exemption is for one year.
The official added that Hungary would also diversify its energy purchases and had committed to buying US liquefied natural gas with contracts valued at some US$600 million (S$780 million).
Hungary has maintained its reliance on Russian energy since the start of the 2022 conflict in Ukraine, prompting criticism from several European Union and Nato allies.
Speaking in Washington late on Nov 7, Mr Orban also said Hungary had received an indefinite exemption for energy imports via the TurkStream gas pipeline and the Druzhba oil pipeline.
“There are no sanctions that would restrict Hungary’s supply through these routes or make it more expensive. This exemption is general and has no time limit,” Mr Orban said.
International Monetary Fund figures show Hungary bought 74 per cent of its gas and 86 per cent of its oil from Russia in 2024, warning that an EU-wide cutoff of Russian natural gas alone could cost Hungary more than 4 per cent of its GDP.
Mr Orban said that, without the agreement, energy costs would have surged, hitting the wider economy, pushing up unemployment and generating “unbearable” price rises for households and firms. REUTERS
A White House official confirmed to Reuters that Hungary had been granted a one-year exemption. Prime Minister Viktor Orban (left) met US President Donald Trump at the White House on Nov 7.
PHOTO: TIERNEY L. CROSS
