Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban will visit the White House on Friday to engage in critical talks with US President Donald Trump. The primary focus is Hungary's dependence on Russian energy and the impact of recent American sanctions targeting Russian oil.
Hungary remains unique within the European Union and NATO for its minimal progress in reducing reliance on Russian oil and gas since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. Hungarian officials warn that a sudden cutoff of Russian imports could severely disrupt their economy.
US representatives, especially NATO ambassador Matt Whitaker, have criticized Hungary for the lack of strategic planning compared to its neighbors. The US has pledged support to help Hungary diversify its energy sources.
Orban’s delegation is expected to advocate for:
However, these requests face significant challenges in the current geopolitical climate.
“Hungarian officials warn that their economy could face severe disruption if forced to cut off Russian imports abruptly.”
“US officials, particularly ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker, have highlighted Hungary’s lack of planning and active steps to address this in comparison with its neighbours.”
Orban seeks US support to ease sanctions impact on Hungary’s Russian energy dependency amid pressure for diversification and cooperation.