President Donald Trump said Friday he is considering whether to give Hungary a waiver from new U.S. sanctions on Russian oil while meeting with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a longtime ally who has backed Trump’s return to the White House and echoed his “America First” rhetoric.
“We’re looking at it, because it’s very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas,” Trump told reporters brought into the room during the leaders’ visit. “They don’t have the advantage of having sea.”
The meeting was Orbán’s first official visit since Trump’s return to office and came just two weeks before sanctions take effect on Russia’s oil giants Rosneft and Lukoil. Those penalties could hit countries that continue buying Russian crude, including Hungary, which depends on Moscow for most of its energy.