Hungary’s new government has asked for an exemption from US sanctions targeting Russian energy buyers, despite pledging to reduce the country’s dependence on supplies from Moscow.
The request comes after US President Donald Trump signed a sweeping expansion of sanctions against Russia into law on Friday. The legislation, criticized by the Kremlin as an “unfriendly move,” allows tariffs of up to 100% on goods from major buyers of Russian oil and gas, while providing for exemptions on US national security grounds.
The Hungarian Foreign Ministry approached the US State Department over the potential impact of the legislation before it was adopted, according to local media reports on Monday. The issue was also raised in Washington last week by Marton Hajdu, chairman of the Hungarian parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and a member of the ruling Tisza party.
Hajdu said he told Republican lawmakers that Tisza was aware of the “risks and disadvantages of dependence on Russian energy,” while asking them to help exempt Hungary from the measures.
Washington reportedly said the legislation could apply to Hungary only after its existing US sanctions exemption expires on November 21 and if it is not renewed. The exemption was secured under former Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Tisza pledged during its election campaign to end Hungary’s dependence on Russian energy by 2035, describing it as a “systemic risk.” The new pro-EU government under Prime Minister Peter Magyar has also described Moscow as a “threat.”
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: rt.com
