Washington D.C. – Following a meeting with former U.S. President Donald Trump, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has returned to Hungary claiming a victory that will allow his goverment to maintain low utility prices, despite ongoing skepticism from U.S. lawmakers regarding his countryS relationship with Russia and the implications for Ukraine.
A State Department official confirmed no official notification of an exemption regarding sanctions had been issued,but noted that translating discussions between leaders into concrete agreements can take time. The official suggested a potential outcome could be a decision not to enforce secondary sanctions against Hungary.
The ambiguity surrounding the outcome mirrors a pattern observed during the Trump governance’s dealings with foreign nations, according to a congressional aide, who characterized the meeting’s results as possibly “performative.” Concerns remain among Congressional Republicans about Orbán’s continued close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his stance on national security issues, particularly the war in Ukraine. “Orbán is still maintaining his close relations with Putin,and he is not being helpful to Zelenskyy,” the aide stated.
Details regarding current or forthcoming arms sales to Hungary have not been disclosed.
Geopolitical analyst Botond Feledy, based in Brussels, explained the domestic political significance for Orbán: “For the Fidesz camp, this is a victory. This is how they explain why they can keep utility prices low. Because of the election campaign, this is a strong message.” Feledy added that the opposition is questioning whether a potential $700 million arms deal justifies Hungary’s delayed efforts to reduce reliance on Russian energy sources, suggesting the cost of Orbán’s pro-Russian position is now being borne by the United States.
Trump’s recent intervention in the Argentinian election has seemingly encouraged other ideological allies to seek U.S. support before upcoming elections. Though, a diplomatic source in Washington indicated that EU regulations would likely prevent the U.S. from replicating the economic support provided to argentina in the case of Hungary.
The aide noted a potential alignment between Republican values and Hungary’s opposition leader,Péter Magyar,who recently expressed praise for Trump on social media.
