On November 7, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed that he is contemplating Hungary’s request for an exemption from U.S. sanctions targeting Russian energy. This discussion took place during a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the White House.
Trump noted the challenges Hungary faces, stating, “We’re looking at it because it’s very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas.” Orbán characterized the sanctions as a “vital” issue for Hungary, a landlocked nation, and emphasized the potential repercussions for the Hungarian populace if these sanctions were to be enforced.
Orbán’s appeal for a practical solution
During his remarks, Orbán indicated he would present Trump with a series of “suggestions” aimed at facilitating a possible exemption. He clarified, “I’m not asking for some kind of gift from the Americans or some kind of unusual thing. I am simply asking for the realization that the sanctions recently imposed on Russian energy puts certain countries like Hungary, which do not have access to the sea, in an impossible situation.” He expressed his intention to ensure that the U.S. President acknowledges this reality.
A significant delegation comprising cabinet members, business leaders, and influential political figures closely linked to Hungary’s government accompanied Orbán on this visit. They traveled on a 220-passenger commercial aircraft, chartered from the Hungarian airline Wizz Air.
U.S. senators urge Hungary to diversify energy sources
Before Orbán’s arrival, a bipartisan assembly of U.S. senators introduced a resolution urging Hungary to reduce its reliance on Russian energy. This initiative garnered support from ten senators, including prominent Republicans Mitch McConnell, Thom Tillis, and Chuck Grassley, along with Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Coons.
The resolution expresses concern over Hungary’s lack of progress in decreasing its dependency on Russian fossil fuels and encourages the country to follow the European Union’s strategy to halt all Russian energy imports by the conclusion of 2027. Senator Shaheen articulated that the resolution “expresses concern that Hungary has shown no sign of reducing its dependence on Russian fossil fuels” and insists that “all allies should be held to the same standard, and that includes Hungary.”
On the same day, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó announced plans to finalize a bilateral nuclear energy cooperation agreement with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. As per the Hungarian state news agency MTI, this agreement will facilitate Hungary’s initial acquisitions of American nuclear fuel, which has previously been sourced from Russia, and will introduce U.S. technology for the on-site storage of spent fuel at Hungary’s Paks nuclear facility. The partnership will also encompass collaborations on small modular reactors.
Upon arriving in Washington, Orbán and several high-ranking officials met with Eduardo Bolsonaro, son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was recently sentenced to 27 years in prison for conspiring to overturn election results. Orbán took to social media to express solidarity, stating, “We stand firmly with the Bolsonaros in these challenging times — friends and allies who never give up. Keep fighting: political witch-hunts have no place in democracy, truth and justice must prevail!”