US Exempts Hungary from Sanctions on Oil & Gas supplies from Russia — Orban

BUDAPEST, November 8, 2025 — Hungary will not face U.S. sanctions on oil and gas imports from Russia. Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced the exemption after his talks with President Donald Trump in Washington.

Speaking to Hungarian journalists on M1 TV, Orban said the U.S. agreed to exclude Hungary from penalties related to the TurkStream gas route and the Druzhba oil pipeline. He added that this deal allows Hungary to maintain some of the lowest energy prices in Europe.

Orban had earlier said he hoped to secure this outcome before arriving in Washington. During the meeting, both leaders discussed Hungary’s energy stability and trade partnership with the United States. As a result, Washington granted a specific waiver covering Russian energy flows into Hungary.

The U.S. Treasury announced new sanctions on October 22 against Russian oil majors Rosneft and Lukoil. The measures, which take effect on November 21, aim to pressure Moscow over its military campaign in Ukraine. However, Budapest warned that such sanctions could harm its economy since Hungary still depends heavily on Russian energy under long-term contracts.

Thanks to the exemption, Hungary can continue receiving oil and gas through its existing infrastructure without disruptions. The decision underscores Orban’s strategy of protecting national energy interests while keeping dialogue open with both Washington and Moscow.