Trump-Orbán: Russian oil imports and war in Ukraine on the table in 'high-stakes' Washington visit

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is leading a 180-strong delegation to visit President Donald Trump in Washington in a meeting that will put the spotlight on their friendship, but also bring ongoing tensions between the two to the forefront.

Orbán arrived in Washington on Thursday on a leased aircraft from Hungary's low-cost carrier Wizz Air as he heralded a special bond between the two countries in a "gilded age" for their bilateral relation.

The Hungarian delegation is staying at Blair House, the official state guest house, which is directly next to the White House.

Before the trip, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó said the US and Hungary worked hard in the last weeks preparing "a large economic and energy cooperation package that would greatly contribute to guaranteeing Hungary's long-term energy security."

One of the main topics during the visit will be Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine. Orbán was due to host a summit in Budapest between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, before Washington ultimately called it off on the assumption Moscow was not ready for serious peace talks.

Instead, the US issued the most severe energy sanctions against Russian energy companies since Moscow's all-out war against Ukraine started in early 2022.

Tensions over Russian oil imports

US officials have been calling on Hungary to cut Russian oil imports, but Budapest has consistently refused, citing national security concerns.

Orbán suggested after the sanctions on Lukoil and Rosneft were imposed last month that he would ask the US President for an opt-out. Trump has not indicated he is prepared to give him one.

"He has asked for an exemption, but we haven't granted one. He is a friend of mine," Trump told reporters over the weekend on Air Force One.

Earlier this month, US NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker told Fox News that Hungary needs to present a plan to reduce Russian oil imports, and the US is ready to assist Budapest.

Daniel Hegedűs, regional director at the German Marshall Fund of the US, told Euronews that Orbán's primary goal is now to get an exemption from the secondary tariffs imposed on Russian energy.

But it is not certain that he will get it, and it poses a domestic risk for Orbán.

"This meeting was requested by the Hungarians, but it is a high-risk meeting nonetheless because in the Hungarian domestic narrative, this mission has become tied to these exemptions," Hegedűs told Euronews.

Still, the Trump administration will not allow Orbán to leave these negotiations looking weaker, he argued, even if Hungary's energy policy contradicts the US government's wishes.

"Trump was crystal clear about that he wishes the re-election of the Hungarian prime minister. And against that background, they are aware that they should not weaken him. I think there will be at least a small symbolic victory provided for Orban," Hegedűs said.

Hungary might offer deals to diffuse tensions over Russian oil

To diffuse the tensions, Hungary may offer trade and defence deals. One option could be to step up purchases of liquified natural gas from the US, in line with the EU.

"I can imagine that they will announce additional purchase of LNG to guarantee the energy security of Hungary," Hegedűs said.

Budapest and Washington have also been negotiating for years over the purchase of small nuclear reactors. The US's participation in the development of the Paks nuclear site could also be on the agenda, and the meeting could facilitate a breakthrough.

According to the Hungarian edition of Radio Free Europe, a defence deal is also on the cards. While details are not known, the aim is "to have a cooperation to increase the capacities of the Hungarian army, possibly through joint ventures."

Experts call on Trump to help Ukraine's EU path

Trump and Orbán will also talk about the war in Ukraine.

Hungary has repeatedly said it stands ready to host a summit in Budapest, although the US has given no indication it is prepared to revive the idea.

Associate director at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center James Batchik argued that the cancellation of the Budapest summit, coupled with the potentially disastrous effects from the new US energy sanctions on Russia, has put Orbán in a tenuous position.

The US could use its leverage over Budapest to press Orbán to remove his veto on Ukraine's bid to join the European Union.

In exchange for any sanctions relief or deals, Batchik believes that the White House visit "would be the perfect opportunity to end Budapest's obstruction to Ukraine's EU accession," he said before the summit.

Hungary is blocking the opening of the negotiating chapters of Ukraine with the European Union on the basis that Kyiv is still at war and represents a security danger for the EU.

The majority of European leaders are in favour of opening the negotiations, and the European Commission suggested this week that Ukraine is technically ready to do so.

US shuts down Hungarian service of Radio Free Europe

On Thursday, as the Hungarian delegation travelled to Washington, Kari Lake, a staunch Trump supporter and acting CEO of the United States Agency for Global Media, announced that it would stop funding Szabad Europa, the Hungarian-language service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

The funding cut could precipitate the closure of Szabad Europa, one of the few critical outlets still operating in Hungary.

"This programming has undermined President Trump’s foreign policy by opposing the duly elected Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban," Lake wrote in a letter sent to Congress members.

A member of Orbán's Fidesz Party, András László, said Szabad Europa deserved to be shut down as it worked "against the American-Hungarian friendship" in a post on social media.