Trump Denies Hungary's Request for Sanctions Exemption
US President Donald Trump rejected Hungary's appeal for an exemption from American sanctions on Russian oil, despite a personal request from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. Trump confirmed the request but stated no exemptions were granted.
Details of the Refusal
On October 31, Trump told reporters that Orbán, who is considered a friend, asked for an exception due to Hungary's dependence on Russian crude supplied through pipelines. Trump said,
“He asked for an exemption, but we didn’t grant it—not a single one. He’s my friend, yes, but he asked for an exemption.”
Orbán’s Position and Plans
Orbán highlighted Hungary’s reliance on pipeline energy, noting the country’s lack of sea access and the importance of the supply routes. He planned to raise the issue again during a meeting with Trump on November 7 and aimed to discuss a wider economic deal with the United States.
“Hungary is a country without access to the sea. We depend on the routes that bring energy to Hungary, which are mainly pipelines. We need to make Americans understand this specific situation if we want them to allow exceptions from US sanctions against Russia,” Orbán said.
Reuters Report
According to Reuters, Orbán’s hope was to convince Trump to make an exception for Hungary due to its significant dependence on pipeline energy.
Summary: President Trump refused Hungary's request for a sanctions exemption, underscoring US resolve despite Hungary's pipeline energy dependency and Orbán's personal appeal.