Hungarian Prime Minister Orbán Prepares for Meeting with Trump to Discuss Sanctions on Russian Oil
On Tuesday, it was announced that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is planning an official visit to the United States, where he will meet with former President Donald Trump.
The main topic of discussion will be the upcoming sanctions that the US plans to impose on the Russian oil sector and potential ways to minimize their impact on Hungary, which remains one of Europe’s main importers of Russian energy.According to Orbán, he aims to collaborate with American colleagues to find solutions amid the escalating energy crisis.
In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, he emphasized that sanctions are critically important for Budapest, given Hungary’s dependency on Russian oil, which poses risks to national energy security.
Although no specific date has been announced yet, Hungary’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the meeting would take place in the latter half of the week in the US.This decision is especially relevant amid Europe’s efforts to diversify energy sources and reduce reliance on Russia.
Hungary’s dependence on Russian oil has increased since 2022, raising concerns in light of US sanctions targeting major Russian oil producers.
Foreign Minister Szijjártó confirmed the meeting will happen soon, although no further details are available.
Meanwhile, US NATO envoy Matthew Vitaker stated that Washington expects Budapest to develop plans for gradually phasing out Russian energy supplies.Hungary’s situation remains complex as the country seeks to find ways to bypass US sanctions, including discussions with state-owned oil company MOL.
Alternative routes through Croatia are considered insufficient due to high costs and limited capacity, further complicating the country’s energy strategy.Overall, the upcoming dialogue aims to address urgent energy security concerns and foster international cooperation to mitigate the impacts of sanctions and diversify energy sources in Europe.