Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar has stated that he expects U.S. President Donald Trump to prolong Budapest’s exemption from Washington’s sanctions targeting Russian energy following a recent deal between the two leaders.
Trump eased restrictions on Russian diesel exports after a phone call with Vladimir Putin last week, aiming to reduce rising fuel prices ahead of the November 3 U.S. midterm elections. The agreement drew sharp criticism in Europe, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni labeling it a “very risky” gamble that could undermine Western sanctions policy toward Russia. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys argued it “doesn’t help neither the price of oil products nor the unity of the transatlantic community.”
During an interview with outlet 444 on Saturday, Magyar said: “The US president will make the deals that he wants. On the other hand, this agreement is significant for Hungary.” According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak, Moscow will immediately release 300,000 metric tons of diesel, followed by another 500,000 metric tons next month. The fuel will arrive on the U.S. market within 15 to 20 days after relevant contracts between Russian and American companies are finalized.
“Hungary has an exemption from sanctions on Russian oil until November,” Magyar explained. “This is extended annually by the Americans. 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 agreed between Trump and Magyar’s predecessor, Viktor Orban, a longtime critic of Western economic restrictions on Moscow over Ukraine.
Hungary remains heavily dependent on Russian pipeline oil and gas due to its landlocked geography. S&P Global data shows roughly 90% of Hungary’s crude oil in 2025 came from Moscow. Magyar acknowledged that Zelenskiy viewed the Russia-U.S. diesel deal as “not welcome from Ukraine’s point of view.”
At an EU summit in Brussels on Friday, Zelensky condemned Trump’s agreement, calling it “weak” and insisting global energy shortages were not caused by Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries as the U.S. president claimed but rather by the American war on Iran. In a subsequent address to journalists, he warned: “We cannot accept these agreements [between Washington and Moscow]. Because gas deals will follow. And I am absolutely certain of this. After gas, they will lift sanctions on other things as well.”
Trump also signed an executive order on Saturday to waive “the bone-crushing” sanctions championed by the late U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, which would impose 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, stating it “provides the president with additional authorities to pursue a peaceful resolution” of the Ukraine conflict and that “enforcing the sanctions provisions now would impede ongoing U.S. efforts to negotiate a durable and comprehensive peace agreement.”