Bloomberg News reported that US President Donald Trump has exempted Hungary from sanctions related to its oil purchases from Russia, a decision that the media outlet described as a major victory for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Viktor Orban and an unidentified American official confirmed the exemption after the two leaders met at the White House on Friday.
Hungary, which is heavily dependent on Russian energy, has previously criticized EU and US sanctions against Moscow.
In a joint press conference with Orban, Trump warned the leaders of other European countries that they should stop buying oil from Russia and expel migrants from Europe.
He stressed that Europe must strengthen its energy independence and reduce dependence on foreign sources.
This exemption comes at a time when Trump has implemented stricter policies against Russia in the energy sector, but Orban’s close ties with Moscow and Hungary’s support for some American positions have apparently paved the way for this exception.
