What Hungary's Orban did - and didn't - get from Trump

November 8, 2025

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to Washington yielded mixed results, securing a temporary exemption from US sanctions on Russian energy imports while committing Hungary to billions of dollars in American purchases. Though Orban portrayed the sanctions relief as essential for Hungarian households facing potential utility bill increases, the US characterized it as a one-year exemption rather than permanent. Hungary agreed to purchase substantial American goods including liquefied natural gas, nuclear fuel rods, small modular reactors worth up to $20 billion, and weapons systems in exchange for the sanctions waiver.

Who is affected

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his government
Hungarian households and utility bill payers
The Hungarian energy company MOL
Slovakia and the Slovnaft refinery facility
The European Commission and EU member states
Russia and its energy company Rosatom
US businesses (LNG suppliers, nuclear technology companies, weapons manufacturers)
Czech Republic government
Chinese battery plant operators in Hungary
US and Hungarian central banks

What action is being taken

MOL is upgrading two refineries (Százhalombatta in Hungary and Slovnaft in Bratislava) to process Brent crude instead of Russian Urals crude
Hungary is buying Russian gas through the Turkstream pipeline and paying in hard currency using a Bulgarian loophole
Chinese battery plants are being built around Hungary
The EU is trying to tighten energy sanctions
A currency swap deal between US and Hungarian central banks is being discussed

Why it matters

This deal represents a significant geopolitical realignment where Hungary shifts from Russian to American energy dependence while maintaining short-term access to Russian supplies. The timing is crucial for Orban's electoral prospects in April, as utility bill caps have been central to his popularity since 2013. The agreement highlights tensions between Hungary's relationship with Russia and its EU obligations, particularly the European Commission's demand to end Russian energy imports by 2027. The substantial financial commitments to US purchases ($10-20 billion for nuclear reactors alone) could reshape Hungary's energy infrastructure and economic relationships for decades while doing nothing to resolve the underlying Ukraine conflict that casts a shadow over the region.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC