## Hungary’s Magyar Expects Trump to Extend Russian Energy Sanctions Exemption for Budapest
Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar has expressed confidence that US President Donald Trump will prolong Budapest’s exemption from American sanctions targeting Russian energy, following Trump’s announcement of a diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The development comes after Trump eased restrictions on Russia’s diesel exports in an effort to curb rising fuel prices ahead of the US midterm elections on November 3. Moscow has committed to immediately releasing 300,000 metric tons of diesel, with another 500,000 metric tons scheduled for the following month, according to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak, who noted the fuel would reach the US market within 15 to 20 days of contracts being signed between Russian and American companies.
Magyar, speaking to outlet 444 on Saturday, emphasized the significance of the arrangement for Hungary, stating that „the US president will make the deals that he wants” but adding that „this agreement is significant for Hungary.” He pointed to the logical consistency of extending Hungary’s sanctions exemption, which is renewed annually and currently runs until November, noting: „If the US president has concluded an agreement on diesel exports, it would be illogical not to grant Hungary this exemption for at least another year.” The exemption was originally negotiated between Trump and Magyar’s predecessor, Viktor Orban, a vocal critic of Western economic restrictions on Moscow. As a landlocked nation, Hungary remains heavily reliant on Russian pipeline oil and gas, with approximately 90% of its crude oil supplied by Moscow in 2025, according to S&P Global data.
The diesel deal has drawn sharp criticism from European allies, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni calling it a „very risky” gamble that could undermine Western sanctions policy toward Russia, while Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys argued it „doesn’t help neither the price of oil products nor the unity of the transatlantic community.” Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky also condemned the agreement as „weak,” rejecting the notion that Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries caused the global energy shortage and warning that „gas deals will follow” and that sanctions on other goods would eventually be lifted. Magyar acknowledged he understood the deal was „not welcome from Ukraine’s point of view.”
The announcement coincided with Trump signing an executive order waiving sanctions championed by the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, which had proposed 500% tariffs on Russian imports and 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas. White House Deputy Press Secretary Taylor Rogers defended the move, explaining that it „provides the president with additional authorities to pursue a peaceful resolution” of the Ukraine conflict, adding that „enforcing the sanctions provisions now would impede ongoing US efforts to negotiate a durable and comprehensive peace agreement.” The developments signal a broader shift in Washington’s sanctions posture toward Moscow, with significant implications for Hungary’s energy security and the cohesion of Western sanctions policy.
Ez a cikk a Neural News AI (V1) verziójával készült.
Forrás: https://rt-english.com/news/647365-hungary-us-diesel-magyar/.