Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is making a high-stakes appeal to President Donald Trump, asking for a special pass that would let his country keep buying Russian oil even as new US sanctions take aim at Moscow’s energy giants.
The Trump administration recently slapped sanctions on major Russian oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil, threatening secondary punishments for foreign buyers who continue doing business with them. This puts Hungary in a tough spot since the country has actually increased its dependence on Russian crude oil to about 86% in 2025, up from 61% before the Ukraine conflict started in 2022.
While most European Union countries have dramatically cut or completely stopped buying Russian fossil fuels since the invasion began, Hungary and Slovakia have kept the oil flowing through the Druzhba pipeline. It’s like being the last two kids still playing with toys that everyone else has decided are off-limits.
Orbán argues that Hungary’s landlocked position leaves his country with no realistic alternatives to Russian crude without risking economic disaster. He frames this as a matter of national survival rather than political preference.
Hungary’s landlocked geography forces reliance on Russian oil as an economic necessity, not a political choice, according to Orbán.
However, critics question whether Hungary’s energy dependence is really as severe as the government claims, suggesting the exemption request serves broader political goals of maintaining cozy ties with Moscow.
The economic stakes are certainly real. Hungary’s economy could face serious disruption if Russian oil supplies suddenly stopped flowing. But the political calculations are equally important. Since the Ukraine invasion began, imports by Hungary and Slovakia have generated an estimated €5.4 billion in tax revenue for the Kremlin.
Both the United States and European Union have been pressuring Hungary to reduce its Russian energy imports. The EU is even preparing proposals for tariffs specifically targeting pipeline oil imports that Hungary and Slovakia continue to maintain. The EU is preparing to adopt its 19th sanctions package against Russia as momentum continues despite the declining pace from earlier years.
Strong messaging from Washington has made it politically harder for Hungary to block EU sanctions proposals.
Orbán’s exemption request reflects his broader strategy of trying to balance between Western sanctions and Russian energy reliance, though this diplomatic tightrope act is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. Orbán will bring a large delegation to Washington to discuss a comprehensive review of US-Hungarian relations.
