Overview
- The White House says the waiver lasts one year, contradicting Hungary’s insistence it is indefinite and applies to TurkStream gas and Druzhba oil supplies.
- The carve-out followed Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s Nov. 7 meeting with President Donald Trump, where Hungary sought relief from the October sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil.
- As part of the arrangement, Hungary agreed to purchase about $600 million of U.S. liquefied natural gas and to buy American nuclear fuel.
- Hungary remains heavily dependent on Russian energy, sourcing roughly 74% of its gas and 86% of its oil from Russia in 2024, according to IMF figures.
- Critics say the exemption risks weakening sanctions and boosting Kremlin revenues, while Orbán also touted a U.S. “financial shield” for Hungary’s economy without providing details.