Hungarian officials said on the eve of the meeting that Orbán intends to discuss a path to a U.S.-Russia meeting and ask for exemptions from U.S. energy sanctions. Ahead of the meeting, Orban said he expected friendly and constructive discussions.
Hungary wins immunity from sanctions
Donald Trump received Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán at the White House, describing him as a "great leader". The Trump administration recently restored Hungary's full access to the US visa programme, also indicating improving relations.
Orbán said the goal is to "open a new chapter" in relations. Trump also praised Orbán for his immigration policy, which he said has never failed. He also stressed that the European Union should respect Hungary more.
Trump also said that the United States is considering an exemption for Hungary from sanctions on Russian oil imports, citing the country's heavy energy dependence on the region as the reason.
"It's very difficult for it to get oil and gas from other areas," Trump noted. "It's a great country, but they don't have the sea, they don't have ports. And so they have a difficult problem," Trump told the press ahead of a bilateral lunch with Orbán.
Subsequently, Orbán announced at a separate press conference that he had succeeded in obtaining full immunity from sanctions for Hungary over the Turkish Stream and Druzhba oil pipelines. This is a general exemption with no time limit. He reported that he had also succeeded in defending a reduction in energy bills.
Orbán said that there are currently both US and European sanctions against Russian energy companies. The Hungarian prime minister said that they have already managed to "break free" from the American ones, but they still have to fight against the latter.
Nuclear deal signed
Orbán announced that the US company Westinghouse will enter Hungary's nuclear sector. In the first phase, Hungary will buy nuclear fuel from the US, then plans to introduce US-made small modular reactors, which will require legislative changes.
The third step is to acquire US technology for the safe storage of spent fuel. Orbán also said that the Trump administration will lift the sanctions imposed on the Paks II project, opening the way for the development of nuclear energy without restrictions.
Hungary also wants to expand financial cooperation with the US, with 1 400 US firms already operating in the country. New partnerships are also to be forged in the space industry, signalling a deepening of strategic ties between Budapest and Washington.
Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó also announced the signing of a government-to-government nuclear agreement with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio after Trump's working dinner with Orbán. The agreement concerns the purchase and storage of US nuclear fuel, which Szijjártó said would strengthen Hungary's energy security.
"Hungary's energy supply is secure!" the minister said on Facebook, posting a photo of the signing of the agreement. He later added a brief status, "We are fine. With everything."
The fuel supply is worth about $100 million and is necessary because the energy demand of the Hungarian economy will increase, so new fuel cells will be needed in addition to the existing connections. Orbán added that this means Russian, French and American sources will be used. "We are standing on three legs," he said.
Negotiations are also underway to sign a five-year contract with a US company to transport a total of 2 billion tonnes of LNG. However, no agreement has yet been reached on the renewal of the double taxation agreement and the issue is still under negotiation.
In addition, Orbán also announced that Hungary will receive US technology that will allow it to store the fuel safely.
The war in Ukraine will not end so soon
Donald Trump has stated that the main problem in the conflict in Ukraine is Russia's unwillingness to stop the war. According to him, the conflict will end "in the not too distant future", noting that Russia is currently losing 7 thousand troops per week.
Trump said Russia simply doesn't want to stop fighting. "The basic dispute is that they just don't want to stop yet. And I think they will stop," Trump concluded.
Trump also indicated that he would like to continue meeting with Vladimir Putin, ideally in Budapest. Asked by a reporter if there was a chance he would meet with Putin, he replied that there is " always a good chance."
Orbán was asked if Ukraine could win the war, to which he responded by saying that "miracles happen." He also stressed that he had not come to the US to seek help in the dispute with the EU, but to start a "golden age" in relations between Hungary and the United States.
"Peace efforts must continue. Both governments are determined to continue their efforts for peace. Hungary is particularly determined," Orbán said during a press conference. However, he informed that he was surprised that the West still considers the outcome of the conflict an open question.
NATO in Romania
Journalists also asked about the future of U.S. troops in Romania, a NATO member state. The answer was given by US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who interrupted both leaders and assured that the troops would remain in the country.
He stressed that it would only be a change in their redeployment or replacement and that allies, including NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, had been informed in advance.
Trump then praised relations with Romania and Europe, but acknowledged disagreements over migration. He also praised trade cooperation between the US and the EU.
(reuters, mja, nepszava, nbc, european conservative, hang)
