Hungary is now free from the artificially high energy prices plaguing the rest of Europe. Landlocked Hungary received the oil through the Soviet-era Druzhba Pipeline, and also through the Turkish Stream. After meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on Nov. 7, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Trump agreed to provide Budapest with a complete exemption from Washington’s sanctions on Russian oil. Orban stated: “There are no sanctions that would immediately limit Hungary’s supply or make it more expensive. This is a general and unlimited exemption.... So Hungary will continue to have the lowest energy prices in Europe.”
Prior to the Nov. 7 meeting with Orban, Trump had addressed Hungary’s situation: “We’re looking at it because it’s very difficult for him to get the oil and gas from other areas. It’s a big country, but they don’t have sea. They don’t have the ports. And so they have a difficult problem.” Trump may also be acting to aid Orban’s re-election chances.
Otherwise, Trump still insisted that European countries that are not so limited, should stop importing Russian oil and gas. Trump has pushed Europe to purchase far more expensive U.S. energy products.
