Hungary was made an exception
Prime Minister Viktor Orban said that during the talks with US President Donald Trump, Hungary achieved exemption from US sanctions, The company is also involved in the Russian oil and gas industry.
According to Orban, the exception applies, in particular, to transit through the Druzhba oil pipeline and the Turkish Stream gas pipeline.
Reasons and significance of the exception
Hungary is a landlocked country, with almost all of its oil and gas infrastructure dependent on pipelines from Russia. Orban argued that the exemption was necessary to avoid an energy crisis and maintain economic stability.
For the US, this decision marks a new step in its flexible energy policy towards Europe.
International reaction
The decision sparked criticism among European allies: it was noted that the exception could reduce the effectiveness of sanctions policy against Russia and set a precedent for other importing countries.
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