Trump and Orban: A Testy Meeting Ahead

A meeting between President Trump and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is set for Friday. It's expected to be a friendly chat between two leaders who often disagree with their European partners on Russia's actions in Ukraine. But there's a big issue on the table: U. S. sanctions on Russia's top energy companies. Hungary relies heavily on Russia for its energy needs. Orban argues that these sanctions are hurting Hungary's economy, especially as he faces a tough re-election battle. This meeting is a chance for Orban to show off his foreign policy skills, something he's been highlighting in his campaign. Orban has been open about his sympathy for Russia's President Putin. Like Trump, he has suggested that Ukraine should give up some land to end the war. Orban has also criticized Trump's political rivals, saying that Trump has improved Hungary's relations with the U. S. after they suffered under the previous administration. Trump has lifted some sanctions that were placed on Hungary by the Biden administration. But others remain, including a suspension of a tax treaty between the two countries. The biggest concern for Orban is the recent U. S. sanctions aimed at pressuring Putin to end the war in Ukraine. He's hoping Trump will exempt Hungary from these sanctions. Hungary gets most of its oil from Russia, and this amount has increased since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Without an exemption, Hungary could face fines or be cut off from American financial institutions. Hungary is already exempt from E. U. sanctions on Russian oil. Before the U. S. sanctions were announced, Trump had planned to meet with Putin in Budapest. But he changed his mind. To get an exemption from the U. S. sanctions, Orban might have to compromise on another issue. Trump wants Europe to take on more of the responsibility for supporting Ukraine. The European Union has agreed to start membership talks with Ukraine, which could help stabilize the country's economy. But Orban is against Ukraine joining the E. U. , saying it would bring the war closer to Europe. In recent years, Orban has gone against most of Europe and NATO by refusing to support military aid or financial assistance to Ukraine. However, he has avoided completely blocking this aid in some cases. His stance on Ukraine's E. U. membership goes against Trump's demands for Europe to do more.