(NewsNation) — President Donald Trump on Friday will welcome Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to the White House, where the country’s purchase of Russian oil is likely to be a key talking point.
As Trump’s efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine have faltered, he has increased pressure on other countries to stop buying Russian oil. Trump has sanctioned Russian oil companies and suggested “secondary sanctions” for countries that purchase it, including India and China.
Orbán has continued relations with Russia and has also refused to supply Ukraine with weapons, to the disapproval of other European leaders.
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However, Orbán has courted the United States, and Trump has praised his leadership.
Orbán is expected to argue Hungary has no other viable source for energy and that he should be exempted from sanctions or other penalties for continuing to purchase Russian oil, which has provided financial support for Russia’s continued war with Ukraine.
He is also expected to advocate for a summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest.
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An earlier summit between the two leaders was set to be hosted there, but it was scuttled when Putin showed no signs of being willing to negotiate his demands.
Orbán has suggested Hungary is still open to holding a peace summit if there is movement toward a deal between Russia and Ukraine.
