Hungary's new government, led by Prime Minister Peter Magyar, has requested an exemption from US sanctions targeting Russian energy buyers. The request comes after US President Donald Trump signed a sweeping expansion of sanctions against Russia into law. The legislation allows tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major buyers of Russian oil and gas, while providing for exemptions on US national security grounds.
Hungary's Foreign Ministry approached the US State Department over the potential impact of the legislation before it was adopted. Marton Hajdu, chairman of the Hungarian parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, also raised the issue in Washington. He told Republican lawmakers that the ruling Tisza party was aware of the risks and disadvantages of dependence on Russian energy.
Hungary remains heavily reliant on Russian supplies, which accounted for around 90% of its crude oil in 2025. Much of the oil has traditionally arrived through the Soviet-built Druzhba pipeline. Flows through the pipeline were halted for nearly three months earlier this year after Ukraine claimed its section had been damaged by a Russian strike.
The Hungarian government has pledged to reduce the country's dependence on Russian energy supplies. Tisza described ending Hungary's dependence on Russian energy by 2035 as a "systemic risk". The new government's policy marks a shift from the previous administration, which resisted EU efforts to curb Russian energy imports.
The EU has sharply reduced Russian energy purchases since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Russia's share of the bloc's gas imports fell from 45% in 2021 to 12% in 2025, while Russian crude dropped from 27% to around 2%. Brussels plans to phase out Russian LNG by the end of 2026 and pipeline gas by late 2027.
Moscow has rejected Western sanctions as "illegal", saying that they have backfired on EU consumers. Russia has redirected much of its exports to other markets. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has acknowledged that the EU "cannot remain an industrial powerhouse" if energy prices remain structurally high.
The US exemption for Hungary is set to expire on November 21, and Washington reportedly said the legislation could apply to Hungary if it is not renewed. The Hungarian government will need to navigate its energy dependence on Russia while complying with EU policies and US sanctions.
Key points
- Hungary's new government seeks exemption from US sanctions on Russian energy buyers
- Hungary remains heavily reliant on Russian energy supplies, accounting for 90% of its crude oil in 2025
- The EU plans to phase out Russian LNG by the end of 2026 and pipeline gas by late 2027
