(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has turned down Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s request to exempt Hungary from sanctions on Russian oil, according to reports.

Orban told Kossuth Radio on Friday that he intends to appeal to Trump during his upcoming Washington visit to secure relief from sanctions targeting Russian energy companies Rosneft and Lukoil, which supply much of Central Europe’s oil. The US blacklisted the two firms last week, citing Moscow’s insufficient commitment to the Ukraine peace process. Hungary has repeatedly emphasized that Russian oil and gas are essential for its energy security.

When questioned by journalists aboard Air Force One, Trump said Orban “has asked for an exemption, but we have not granted one.” He added, “He is a friend of mine,” before suggesting reporters move on to other topics.

Orban explained that, as a landlocked country, Hungary has no practical alternatives to Russian oil, and replacing it could trigger an economic crisis. “We have to make the Americans understand this peculiar situation... if we want them to allow exemptions from the American sanctions against Russia,” he stated.

The Hungarian prime minister plans to bring a “large delegation” of ministers, economic officials, and security advisers to Washington on November 7 to finalize an economic cooperation package with the US, stressing that any deal depends on continued access to Russian energy.

Hungary, which has maintained a neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict, faces mounting EU pressure to reduce reliance on Russian oil and gas, as the bloc plans to phase out imports by 2028. Orban, a prominent Trump ally in the EU, visited the US multiple times during last year’s presidential campaign and has recently praised Trump’s efforts to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

MENAFN02112025000045017281ID1110281844