**Hungary Seeks Exemption from US Sanctions on Russian Energy**
Hungary's new government has formally requested an exemption from recently expanded U.S. sanctions that target buyers of Russian energy. This move comes despite the government's commitment to reduce the nation's reliance on Russian energy supplies. The request follows the signing of a comprehensive sanctions package by U.S. President Donald Trump, which has drawn criticism from the Kremlin.
The sanctions legislation, enacted on Friday, includes provisions for tariffs of up to 100% on goods from significant purchasers of Russian oil and gas. However, it does allow for exemptions on national security grounds. The Hungarian Foreign Ministry has approached the U.S. State Department to discuss the potential repercussions of these sanctions prior to their implementation, as reported by local media.
Marton Hajdu, the chairman of the Hungarian parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the ruling Tisza party, raised the issue during discussions in Washington last week. He informed Republican lawmakers that the Tisza party recognizes the "risks and disadvantages of dependence on Russian energy" and requested their assistance in securing an exemption for Hungary.
According to reports, the U.S. indicated that the sanctions would apply to Hungary only after its current exemption expires on November 21, unless renewed. This exemption was previously obtained under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The Tisza party has committed to ending Hungary's dependence on Russian energy by 2035, labeling it a “systemic risk.” The new pro-European Union government led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar has also characterized Moscow as a “threat,” signaling a shift in Hungary's energy policy compared to the previous administration.
Under Orban's leadership, Hungary resisted European Union initiatives aimed at reducing Russian energy imports and successfully negotiated exemptions for the landlocked country. Orban argued that cutting off access to relatively inexpensive Russian energy would harm the European economy.
Currently, Hungary remains heavily dependent on Russian energy, with approximately 90% of its crude oil sourced from Russia as of 2025, according to S&P Global. Much of this oil is transported via the Druzhba pipeline, which has faced disruptions, including a nearly three-month halt earlier this year after Ukraine claimed damage to its section of the pipeline due to a Russian strike—a claim that Moscow disputes. Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of intentionally delaying the pipeline's restart for political reasons.
In the wake of the escalating Ukraine conflict in 2022, the European Union has significantly reduced its energy purchases from Russia. The share of Russian gas imports in the EU plummeted from 45% in 2021 to just 12% in 2025, while Russian crude oil imports fell from 27% to approximately 2%. The EU has set ambitious goals to phase out Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2026 and pipeline gas by late 2027.
Moscow has condemned the Western sanctions as “illegal,” asserting that they have adversely affected EU consumers. In response, Russia has redirected much of its energy exports to other markets.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has acknowledged the challenges posed by high energy prices, stating that the EU “cannot remain an industrial powerhouse” under such conditions.
As Hungary navigates its energy policy amidst these geopolitical tensions, the outcome of its request for a sanctions exemption remains to be seen, particularly in light of its stated goals for energy independence and the broader EU strategy to reduce reliance on Russian energy supplies.