On Friday, President Donald Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán will engage in talks focusing on trade, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and energy prices.
During a joint session with the media in the Cabinet Room, President Trump outlined the agenda for their discussion.
“We will be discussing trade, having a conversation about Russia and Ukraine, and looking into energy issues and pricing,” Trump stated.
When a reporter inquired if he might consider granting Hungary an exemption regarding sanctions on Russian oil, Trump replied, “We’re looking into it because Hungary faces significant challenges in sourcing oil and gas from other locations.”
“They don’t have the benefit of an ocean. While they’re a major country, lacking a port makes it really tough for them,” Trump noted, mentioning that other unnamed nations share similar difficulties.
Trump expressed his frustration with European nations that overlook Hungary’s landlocked status while continuing to import oil and gas from Russia despite assistance from the U.S.
“Hungary is in a unique situation, yet many in Europe have been purchasing oil and gas from Russia for years. I find that quite perplexing,” he remarked.
The two leaders clearly hold each other in high esteem, with Trump praising Orbán for his leadership.
“He’s a very influential figure in Hungary, and people truly admire him. He’s doing a great job running the country, without any scandals or issues that other nations face,” Trump added.
In response, Prime Minister Orbán recognized Trump for mending the relationship between the U.S. and Hungary, which he felt had suffered under former President Joe Biden.
“We’re here to start anew in U.S.-Hungarian relations because, frankly, the previous administration did a lot of damage,” Orbán stated.
“Over the past ten months, Mr. President, we appreciate your efforts. You’ve restored our relations to their former glory,” he continued. “You’ve improved the bilateral relationship and corrected the missteps of the last administration.”
