US President Donald Trump made it clear that Washington has no intention of easing pressure on the Russian oil sector—and even allies will not receive any concessions. At a briefing, he explicitly stated that Hungary would not get an exemption from the sanctions imposed on Russian oil imports. The statement came as a cold shower to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was counting on a personal understanding with the American leader.
The new sanctions package unveiled by the US in late October covers Russia’s largest oil companies—including Rosneft and Lukoil. These measures are aimed at limiting Russia’s foreign currency earnings and close off possibilities for circumventing the restrictions through intermediaries. Under the sanctions, any country or company that continues to purchase Russian oil risks falling under secondary restrictions. Hungary finds itself in a difficult position: its refineries are technically dependent on supplies via the Druzhba pipeline. This is a Soviet legacy that makes the country particularly vulnerable. According to Reuters, after 2022, Budapest has not only failed to reduce its import of Russian oil but has actually increased purchasing volumes.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that Hungary cannot instantly abandon Russian energy carriers without severe consequences for its economy. He emphasized that the country is landlocked and therefore dependent on pipeline routes. Orbán intends to meet with Donald Trump on November 7th to personally discuss a sanctions exemption and propose “alternative forms of cooperation.” However, the US President’s words are unequivocal: “He asked—but we did not grant the exemptions.” The phrase, cited by the Associated Press, has become an indicator of a new stage in relations—pragmatic, without diplomatic pleasantries.
The situation surrounding Hungary has once again highlighted the energy fault line within Europe. Most EU countries have gradually reduced or completely stopped purchasing Russian oil, while Budapest continues to receive raw materials via the previous routes. According to Euronews, Hungarian refineries are technically adapted to process the specific Russian blend—and switching to another type of oil would require billions of dollars in investment and several years of work. While Brussels demands “solidarity in energy policy,” Hungary asserts that it cannot jeopardize the national economy for the sake of political symbols.
The sanctions saga is not just a dispute over supplies; it is a demonstration of how infrastructure and geography dictate strategic decisions. Hungary is caught in an energy trap: dependence on a single pipeline makes the economy hostage to foreign policy. The US, in turn, is demonstrating that even allies are not protected from rigid rules when strategic interests and global security are at stake. Experts believe that the denial of an exemption might push Hungary to seek workaround schemes—for example, through intermediaries in the Balkan or Middle Eastern countries. However, such a move would only intensify pressure from Washington and the European Union.
The US rejection has become a signal not only to Budapest but to all countries that continue cooperation with the Russian fuel sector: there will be no more compromises. Hungary will likely try to play the diplomatic card, raising the issue of energy independence and a “just transition” for Central European countries. But the reality is that without large-scale infrastructure modernization and diversification of supplies, the country will remain dependent on Russian pipelines. Amidst the intensifying energy confrontation, Trump’s position demonstrates that the US intends not just to limit Russian oil exports but to build a new system of control over energy flows in Europe.
Conclusion: The refusal to grant Hungary an exemption is not a private diplomatic incident but a strategic signal: the era of energy compromises is over. Now, every country is forced to choose—between economic comfort and political loyalty. And this choice will determine the balance of power on the continent in the coming years.
