Viktor Orban to meet Donald Trump next week in Washington to discuss energy issues
The United States imposed sanctions on Wednesday October 22 on the two largest Russian oil producers, Rosneft and Lukoil, which could potentially affect Hungary, which is still heavily dependent on Russian oil and gas.
Viktor Orban announced on Monday that he would be “soon in Washington to discuss it with the president [Donald] Trump ». “We are thinking about how to build a sustainable system for my country’s economy, because Hungary is very dependent on Russian oil and gas. Without them, energy prices will explode, causing shortages in our stocks”declared Mr. Orban on Monday in Rome to the daily The Republic.
Has the American president gone too far with these sanctions? “From the Hungarian point of view, yesreplied Mr. Orban. And so we will seek to find a solution, especially for Hungary. »
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said on Fox News over the weekend that the United States expected countries like Hungary to “develop and implement a plan” pour “to wean oneself” Russian energy sources.
“There will be an opportunity in Washington in the second half of next week for the Prime Minister [Viktor Orban] personally discusses this issue with the American president”said Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, during a press briefing alongside his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, visiting Budapest.
Szijjarto says Hungary is analyzing what US sanctions against Russia’s two oil giants would mean “legally and physically” when they come into force.
On Friday, Mr. Orban, who presents himself as the closest ally of Mr. Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin within the European Union (EU), said he was examining ways to “to circumvent” ces sanctions.
The EU also targeted the Russian oil sector on Friday by announcing a new set of sanctions against Moscow on 19e since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Mr Orban, who has repeatedly criticized EU sanctions against Russia, has so far secured an exemption on oil deliveries via pipelines to Hungary, saying his country had no other practical choices for its supplies.
