The government in Budapest is trying to convince the US administration that due to Hungary's geographical location, the country has no choice but to rely on Russian oil, despite the alternative oil pipeline connecting Hungary with the Adriatic Sea through Croatia, describes Bloomberg.
Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orban said in a conversation with journalists on Monday that he would meet with Donald Trump to try to lift sanctions from Russia. The leader emphasized that Hungary is very dependent on Russian gas and oil.
The head of the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Peter Szijjarto, announced that Donald Trump and Victor Orban are to meet in Washington in the second half of next week. He did not provide a specific date.
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What sanctions are discussed during the meeting?
When is the meeting between Trump and Orban planned?
What arguments does Orban present regarding oil imports?
What did Trump say about Hungary and Slovakia?
Donald Trump agreed with Victor Orban's arguments
Donald Trump has been sympathetic to Victor Orban's arguments in recent weeks. At the end of September, the US president said that Hungary and Slovakia cannot stop buying Russian oil and that he does not want these countries to be blamed for it. He made a similar comment about Hungary during an October meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky.
— Hungary is in a sense in a bind because it has one pipeline. It has been operating for many, many years (…) They have no sea (…) I talked to the great leader of Hungary and they have great difficulties with access to oil. I understand that, explained Donald Trump.
However, it is not known what the position of the US administration is now, after last week's announcement of sanctions against Russian oil companies, Bloomberg points out.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said on Fox News on Sunday that Hungary, unlike many of its neighbors, has not prepared any plans or taken any active steps to limit imports of Russian oil. “We will continue to work with them and we intend to work with their neighbors, such as Croatia, and other countries that can help them become independent,” he added.
